Tributes flow for Gold Coast backpacker pulled from northern NSW swimming hole

A backpacker staying on the Gold Coast who drowned at a northern NSW waterfall has been remembered by friends as a ‘beautiful person’ who was always ‘ready for adventure’.

A backpacker staying on the Gold Coast who drowned at a popular northern NSW waterfall has been remembered by friends as a “beautiful person”.

Emergency services were called to Dalwood Falls at Dalwood following reports the 23-year-old Swedish national jumped into the water and did not resurface on Sunday afternoon.

A large search effort was carried out after the alarm was raised about 2.30pm, NSW Police said.

It took about 24 hours for emergency services to find the man, named Albin.

His friends launched on online fundraising page to repatriate the 23-year-old to his native Sweden.

“After three months in Australia, Albin created a group of friends around the Gold Coast. With some of them, he decided to go to a waterfall close to Byron Bay,” his friends wrote on the page.

“Unfortunately, the day did not end as it was supposed to. Albin had done a few jumps into the water, but after the last one, he (failed) to resurface.

“Despite the fact that his friends at the scene tried to save him, and even with the help of around 50 people from the emergency (services), Albin was not found until September 18.”

Dalwood Falls in Dalwood, northern NSW.

Friends said any money raised would go towards repatriation and to help fund the emergency services.

“Albin will stay forever in our hearts,” they wrote.

“He was a beautiful person – always smiling and ready for a new adventure.

“Albin will be missed dearly by all of his family and friends.

“If you want to participate, we want to thank you in advance, and even if your donation is an only a little bit we want you to know that it will help a lot.”

Dalwood Falls is notorious for deaths and injuries, with several people having lost their lives and suffered various accidents at the popular swimming hole.