Fears up to 28 injured in horror boating incident at Horizontal Falls

At least 20 people have been wounded, with 12 sustaining serious injuries, following a boat incident at a popular Australian tourist attraction.

At least 12 people are in a serious condition after a boating incident at a popular tourist destination in Western Australia on Friday.

At around 7am a tour boat capsized at Horizontal Falls, an attraction in the state’s northwest famous for its fast-moving tides.

A total of 26 passengers and two crew members are understood to have been involved in the capsize of the vessel, all of them reportedly sustaining a degree of injury.

“A number of people did find themselves in the water and a number of people are injured,” WA Police Commander Brad Sorrell said.

Tides move quickly at Horizontal Falls in WA’s north. Picture: Victoria Nielsen/news.com.au

The Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) worked alongside police and other agencies to respond to the the incident.

At least four of the seriously injured patients were flown to Perth for treatment with more expected to follow.

None of the injuries are believed to be life threatening or children.

Others arrived in Broome with their legs and bodies bandaged up.

As of Friday evening a number of patients remained trapped on a pontoon in the area, along with doctors and paramedics, with aims to evacuate them before dark.

“It remains a priority to get these patients to a safe zone … ideally as soon as possible and most probably before last light this evening,” RFDS general manager Damien Whitham said.

The extent of injuries sustained in the incident, which occurred about 250km northeast of Broome, remains unclear.

Patients were being transferred for triage at nearby Koolan Island airport.

Private aircraft were called in to assist with transferring patients on top of four RFDS aircraft.

Police said the possibility of dangerous wildlife made removing patients from the water particularly urgent.

“There’s estuarine crocodiles and box jellyfish in the area there, so that was a priority,” Commander Sorrell said

Authorities say they were quick to respond to the incident in an area only accessible by sea or air.

“It was a well-coordinated response demonstrating the ability of WA to respond to emergencies even in the most remote areas of the state,” Commander Sorrell said.

Tourist vessels squeeze between narrow gorges at the famous Horizontal Falls. Picture: Fleur Bainger

Horizontal Falls, described as an ocean phenomenon, attracts tourists from all over the world, with its swift tidal currents squeezing between two narrow gorges in what Sir David Attenborough once labelled “one of the greatest natural wonders of the world”.

Jet boats and plane flights are known to frequent the spectacular area, with thrillseekers venturing to the marine park to catch the big tides and strong currents close up.

The Kimberley region is currently in dry season, meaning the Horizontal Falls have been particularly busy with tourists.

Horizontal Falls Seaplane Adventures offer tourists a scenic flight from Broome, an “exhilarating ride through the Horizontal Falls on one of fastest boats in the Kimberley” and a “cruise through the spectacular bays and untouched creek systems of Talbot Bay” all for around $1000.

In a statement on Friday, tour operator Horizontal Falls Seaplane Adventures said Falls Express was guided by an experienced skipper when the vessel came into trouble while travelling through the falls.

“The vessel immediately returned to the pontoon,” the statement said.

“(We) are continuing to liaise with the RFDS and emergency services to manage the incident.”

An investigation is underway into the cause of the capsize.

Originally published as Fears up to 28 injured in horror boating incident at Horizontal Falls