Limited fencing at Warringal Parklands could be why a man fell into the Yarra River

A council is investigating how a man plummeted off a path in a Heidelberg park and into the Yarra, an accident which also landed him in hospital.

A lack of fencing could be to blame after a man plummeted down a river embankment in a Heidelberg park and ended up in hospital.

Banyule Council Mayor Wayne Phillips told Leader the council planned to inspect the walking trail and consider safety changes after a 35 year-old man fell almost 10m into the Yarra River at Warringal Parklands on the night of January 7.

The man did not realise how close the path was to a steep drop, and rolled down a slope for nearly 30 metres when his dogs led him astray.

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The majority of the Yarra River trail at Warringal Park in Heidelberg was fenceless. PIC: Chanel Zagon.

He had to be rescued by emergency crews, and was taken to the Austin Hospital with minor injuries.

“In light of the recent incident, council will inspect the pathway and consider any safety changes that could be made which would reduce risk to users of the parklands and its shared path facilities along the edge of the river,” Cr Phillips said.

The Leader found fences were intermittent around the Yarra trail, with fenceless steep drops within just three metres of the main path.

The fence at the scene of the incident included three wooden posts. PIC: Chanel Zagon.

The incident has triggered discussion on whether additional fencing is needed to protect trail walkers.

A Heidelberg walker told the Leader the trails at the Parklands were “steep” and walkers had to be careful to avoid slipping over the edge.

“The real risk is when it’s dark,” they said.

“If you’ve got dogs who walk into the bushes on the side of the nature strip … one step too far and you could be gone.”

Other locals expressed their concern on Facebook saying they could have suffered the same fate.

The council-managed parkland spans 35.5ha and is bordered by the Yarra River to the south and east and Beverely Rd to the north.

The MFB declined to comment.

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