Notorious waterfall danger signs ignored before man drowned

A tourist who died after jumping from a popular Queensland waterfall last month walked past signs warning of the dangers of the waterway.

A Japanese tourist who died after jumping from a popular Far North Queensland waterfall last month walked past signs warning of the dangers of the waterway.

A coroner investigating the tragic death of the 20-year-old tourist at Crystal Cascades Waterhole found there was adequate signage to warn people of the prohibitions of swimming and diving in the area.

The man, referred to as Mr G in the coroner’s non-inquest findings, jumped from the waterfall on March 10.

Coroner Stephanie Williams said while he initially surfaced from the jump, he then struggled to swim to the bank, slipped underwater and did not resurface.

Crews called in to search for him at the waterhole west of Cairns did not find his body until the following day.

Queensland Fire and Emergency Services, State Emergency Services and police coordinating a search for the missing man at Crystal Cascades swimming hole in the Redlynch Valley. Picture: Brendan Radke

The man is among several people who have lost their lives at the notorious swimming hole.

In 2023, two men aged 21 and 59 were found unresponsive in waters near the falls.

In 2014, an 18-year-old man died after slipping from the waterfall and drowning in the pool below.

Crystal Cascades, Freshwater Creek near Cairns. Picture: istock

The coroner said the Japanese man who died last month accessed the waterfall by descending a set of stairs at a viewing platform, swimming across the pool to the opposite bank and walking to the top of the falls.

“Whilst there were no barriers on the opposite bank to prevent Mr G from accessing the waterfall, there was a warning sign enroute to the platform indicating swimming was prohibited beyond the point of the sign,” she said.

“That prohibition was in English. In addition to the prohibition, the sign contained the international signs for no swimming, no diving and no climbing over barriers.”

A sign at Crystal Cascades. Picture: Sharon Dowman

She said there was a further warning sign at the entry to the stairs the man descended.

“That sign displayed international warning symbols indicating there were strong currents, submerged rocks, slippery areas, and underwater drop offs,” the coroner wrote.

“In my view the signage was adequate to inform Mr G of the risks in the waterway and prohibitions on swimming and diving in the area into which he jumped.”

A forensic pathologist gave evidence the man’s cause of death was drowning.

“I accept the forensic pathologist’s opinion as to the cause of death and find that the cause of Mr G’s death was drowning,” the coroner wrote.

“I extend my condolences to Mr G’s family and friends for their loss.”