Monash University student dies in 200m fall at CSR Quarry Reserve in Ferntree Gully
A TEENAGER has died after falling almost 200m while climbing a cliff face at a disused quarry in Melbourne’s outer east.
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A “BRIGHT and intelligent” teenager studying to be a doctor has tragically died after slipping while climbing a steep cliff face at a quarry-turned-park in Ferntree Gully.
Monash University student James Taylor made the fateful decision on March 24 to walk about 300m and climb the cliff face at the Knox Council-owned CSR Quarry Reserve.
Knox Leading Senior Constable Deidre Ford said James was fishing with a uni friend at the reserve after recently moving to Melbourne from Marburg, Queensland.
He was only about 10m from reaching the top of the 210m-high cliff when rocks slipped from under his feet and he lost his footing.
James fell 100m on to a ledge, and slid and fell another 100m, before coming to a rest on another ledge a couple of metres from the ground.
Two men who happened to be driving down Quarry Rd at the time saw James fall, rang 000 and alerted James’ friend.
One of the men went with him to James’ side, and the other waited for the ambulance to arrive and directed them to the scene.
Sen-Constable Ford said paramedics worked on James for 10 minutes but tragically were not able to revive him and he died at the scene.
She said he suffered horrendous head injuries. He did not use any climbing gear and was only wearing a shirt, runners and shorts.
She said his death was “an absolute tragedy” and James had so much to live for.
“He loved the outdoors and was very adventurous and he paid the ultimate price,” Sen-Constable Ford said.
His sudden death led to an outpouring of tributes from friends and community groups on social media, including a post from Murwillumbah High School where he was the vice-captain last year.
About 50 emergency service personnel from the CFA, SES, MFB and police attended the scene.
Sen-Constable Ford said police would prepare a report for the coroner. She said his dad had described James as a bright, happy, adventurous and intelligent boy.
The public are not allowed in the section of the quarry James and his friend had accessed, but Sen-Constable Ford said the pair were able to get through holes in the fence.
“It's council property and they have rezoned it as parkland, and there are beautiful tracks (for people to use), but where the lake area is and the cliff face, that is not open to the public,” she said.
The lake is known on social media as a popular fishing spot.
Sen-Constable Ford had also heard reports of people rock climbing at the quarry using professional gear, despite it being banned. She called on the council to fix up the fence’s holes and put in a more secure fence that could not be cut. She also called on them to put a separate fence up around the lake.
The site previously operated as a quarry and the council has been working since 2008 to rejuvenate the site, transforming it into open space and parkland.
The council expressed its condolences but said it couldn’t comment on the circumstances “due to the impending Coroner’s inquest”.
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