Swift water expert and psychologist discuss Babinda Boulders deaths

A rescuer who has pulled bodies from Babinda Boulders has spoken about how people are being trapped and killed as a psychologist calls for the tourism attraction to be closed.

A rescuer who has pulled bodies from Babinda Boulders has described how people are pinned at the bottom of the waterholes as one psychologist says the only way to stop people from risking their lives is to close the site to the public.

Cairns Regional Council last week released a report commissioned following the drowning of a teenager in 2021.

The report revealed the full extent of the swimming spot’s dangers where 21 people have been killed, and made recommendations to improve signage, and increase education campaigns and enforcement.

Swimmers at the no-go-zone of the Babinda Boulders. Picture: Cairns Regional Council

With 29 years experience as a firefighter and 16 years in technical rescues, Queensland Fire and Rescue Service Far North Southern Area Command Inspector Brad Fleming has attended many recovery missions at Babinda.

Inspector Fleming said every recovery was extremely difficult, and the impact on families and those first-responders was severe.

The Babinda Boulders where 21 people have died since 1916. Picture: John Griffith

“In the area we call the Washing Machine the hydrology pushes you down and because the water is so highly aerated you have no buoyancy, you’re held down by the sheer force of it and spun around,” he said.

“Some places you get held down by water and there’s lots of areas with tight crevasses where your foot, hand or clothing can get caught or you can simply be pinned underwater by rocks or logs held there by the force of the water and you're stuck.”

Queensland Fire and Emergency Services Inspector Brad Fleming said people must realise warning signage at Babinda Boulders is there for a reason. The former Swift Water rescue technician said crews always got to an incident with the rescue not recovery mindset. Picture: Brendan Radke

He said anyone who thought they could survive the treacherous waters at The Chute, Devils Pool and the Washing Machine — three of the most dangerous parts of Babinda Boulders — should think again.

“I’ve been to many swift water incidents over the years and there for me it’s always been recoveries, not rescues,” he said.

“Those undercurrents are very, very real and are so dangerous.

“Locations such as Devil’s Pool or the Washing Machine are just too dangerous, people really need to take heed of the signage – it’s there for a reason.”

Tourists overlooking devils pool down from the boulders in Babinda. Picture: Supplied

Inspector Fleming said people not only risked their own lives, they also risked those who tried to rescue them.

“There are locations we won’t enter if it’s deemed too dangerous,” he said.

“It’s not only about whitewater, there’s very slippery rocks and large obstacles to get around and navigate and covering the terrain can be very difficult.

“I’ve seen some pretty courageous actions by our people.

“I am extremely proud of the people I work with in their job, we all rely on each other and my priority is my team.

“The level of professionalism the crews display at jobs is highly commendable.”

Search for teenage girl Chloe Bailey who drowned at Babinda Boulders in 2022. Picture: Queensland Police Service

Part of the reason Babinda is so dangerous is because it receives 8m of rainfall annually.

But people also were risking their lives for an Instagram photo, Inspector Fleming said.

“When you look at social media influencers, you see a lot of risks taken to the get the magic photos,” he said.

“Perhaps the answer is more public education.”

Cairns psychologist Karen Dow of Shine Strong Psychology said people ignoring the warning signs were often driven by a high “appetite for adventure”, and “optimism bias”.

“That’s where they think ‘This cannot happen to me’,” she said.

“Plus there’s the ‘Look at me — I’m a dare devil and risk taker’.

“Risk assessment can’t be taught to young people who feel young and fearless.”

Ms Dow said the solution to prevent more deaths must include education and denying access.

“I think council need to lock it up,” she said.

Cairns psychologist Karen Dow of Shine Strong Psychology said it can be difficult to persuade people “with a high appetite for risk,” to heed warnings. Picture: Brendan Radke

But Cairns Division 1 councillor Brett Moller does not agree.

“It’s vital the lives of the young people lost at Babinda Boulders acts as a catalyst to prevent more fatalities, we don’t want these losses of life to be in vain,” he said.

“We want to make this a safer place.”

Cr Moller said while he was devastated for the families and wider communities impacted by deaths of their loved ones, “people have to take responsibility for the risks they take”.

He said the deaths had shattered families.

The restricted are at the Babinda Boulders. Picture: Escape FNQ

“Until we can understand how to get through to people the genuine risk of drowning at Babinda Boulders, more fatalities will occur,” he said.

“The report showed the biggest issue was people’s intentional disregard for signs and safety measures in place.”

Cr Moller said council will work through the implementation plan and develop a strategy ahead of its formal adoption.

Cairns deputy mayor Terry James said council was focused on making Babinda Boulders a safer place.

“If you get caught at the bottom of a hole there you won’t come back,” he said.

Originally published as Swift water expert and psychologist discuss Babinda Boulders deaths