Raniera ‘Rani’ de Thierry: Woman describes heartbreaking moment 18-year-old died at Currumbin rock pools

A woman has opened up about the heartbreaking moment an 18-year old-man died in the Hinterland as his loved ones have spoken of their loss. READ THE HEARTBREAKING DETAILS

A woman at the scene of Sunday’s tragic Currumbin rock pools death has opened up about the frantic search by swimmers to find the 18-year-old man and the heartbreaking response from his friends to family - who could only say “I’m sorry”.

The 18-year-old Ipswich man has since been identified as former Redbank Plains State High School student Raniera “Rani” de Thierry.

Just before 4pm on Sunday, Raniera jumped in the water and failed to resurface at the popular swimming spot on Currumbin Creek Rd.

Police divers recovered his body about 8pm and confirmed there were no suspicious circumstances surrounding his death.

Raniera “Rani” de Thierry. Picture: Facebook

It is understood Raniera visited the rock pools with a group of friends including his partner.

On Sunday, his partner posted a video of the group’s trip to the rock pools just minutes before Raniera’s jump.

“Woke up wishing this wasn’t real, I love you,” she said in a Facebook story on Monday.

“Thank you for being you. See you in another life time my boy.”

Mudgeeraba’s Hannah McLean made the first Triple 0 phone call after witnessing the incident unfold.

Currumbin Rock Pools. Picture: Tourism and Events Queensland (TEQ)

The 26-year-old said she was just about to go for a swim when she heard panic from a group of young men in the water.

Four of them had jumped in the water and only three had surfaced.

Ms Mclean told the Bulletin: “I heard all his friends saying – Where is he? Where is he?

She said two young women still on the rocks began to cry hysterically.

While waiting for emergency services to arrive, Ms McLean and other onlookers began searching the waters themselves.

“Everyone was diving down to see how deep (the water) was. But you can’t see it, it’s so brown,” she added

Emergency services arrived half and hour later, and told Ms McLean a dive squad would be on the way to aid the search.

Two hours later, Ms McLean said a woman, understood to be Raniera’s mother, arrived on scene.

“That’s when they all (his friends) started to show some emotion. They kept saying sorry, I’m so sorry,” she said.

“There’s a plaque where a man died in 2016, that’s right where he jumped.”

Emergency personnel attend the Currumbin Rock Pools where a man jumped in but did not resurface and was found 20 minutes later Photo: David Clark

Raniera’s mother Kylie Hikuroa paid tribute to her son in a Facebook post.

“If we could describe what hell feels like, it’s losing your baby,” Ms Hikuroa said.

“The pain we feel is beyond unbearable which we don’t wish upon anyone.”

Ms Hikuroa offered her thanks to the first responders, along with others who provided their support.

Despite Sunday’s tragedy Gold Coast City Council confirmed it will not close off access to the rock pools.

While considered one of the Coast’s most popular natural attractions, the Currumbin swimming spot does have a treacherous history.

In 2016, 41-year-old father Chris Taiatini died after leaping into the pools.

The area is notorious for its slippery rock ledges and surrounding cliffs.

Warning signs erected by the council caution that “death and serious injury have occurred as a result of climbing on rock cliff faces and diving around the rock pools”.

While some parts of the rock pools have estimated depths of up to 30m other areas closer to the cliff face are estimated to be 1 to 2.5 metres deep and studded with barely-visible underwater boulders.

Sunday’s death has sparked online outrage, with locals taking to social media to call for an end to people jumping from the surrounding cliffs.

Ms McClean said

A Gold Coast City Council spokesman said: “Our thoughts are with the family following this tragic incident.

“There are no plans to prevent community use of this site.

“However visitors are urged to heed the warnings on site as it’s never safe to climb on the rock cliff faces or to dive in.”

Police said there were no suspicious circumstances and a report would be prepared for the coroner.