Young woman dies after plunge from Isabella Falls

A Far North search and rescue expert has warned improved safety measures is not enough to prevent further waterfall tragedies following a death at Isabella Falls.

LATEST: A FAR North wilderness safety researcher, and search and rescue expert has warned signage is not the only answer to many of the region’s hazardous attractions, saying more people should be educated on the bush before heading to waterfalls.

PHD researcher and SES volunteer, Steve Schwartz, believes many tourists would refrain from visiting sites such as Isabella Falls, where a 19-year-old Mununda woman was killed on Monday, with adequate knowledge of their traps and dangers.

“What I (have) realised is we are good at finding people, what we aren’t good at is understanding how people get themselves into trouble,” he said.

SES volunteer Steve Schwartz (centre) has called for better education to help prevent tragedies such as the death of a 19-year-old woman at Isabella Falls on Monday. PICTURE: ANNA ROGERS

“They don’t know the environment until it’s too late and tragedy happens.

“People shouldn’t be climbing up there or being around the drops or edges unless they’re really skilled or have the right knowledge.”

It comes as Edmonton residents have called for public access to be removed from areas such as Isabella Falls and the Babinda Boulders, or for barricades be built to prevent further deaths.

Monday’s tragedy follows the death of Edmonton teenager Chloe Narelle Bailey, whose body was found at the Babinda Boulders in December.

Mr Schwartz said people visiting these sites should study up using hiking resources and asking experts for advice, including hiking with experienced walkers.

“Signage is not the only answer and signs have limited ability to work if people aren’t educated,” he said.

Cairns MP Michael Healy issued a warning earlier for the Far North residents and visitors “to take extra care when exploring our backyard” in the wake of the tragedy.
Mr Healy said he sympathised with the young Manunda woman’s family “who are processing this tragic news and grieving.”

“The Far North is a natural playground, abundant with beauty and adventure,” he said.
“But those adventures also present certain dangers, and I urge everyone to please take extra care when exploring our backyard, and to always follow the safety advice on offer.”

EARLIER: RESIDENTS who live near a waterfall south of Cairns have asked the dangerous location be removed from public access after a young Manunda woman died on Monday.

Sue Hughes has lived in the area for 26 years and said it used to be a small local waterfall.

“I get it, people like to see waterfalls but I live here, it is not a tourist waterfall,” Ms Hughes said.

“Council have made it accessible. They put a path in. When we came here it was a dirt track.”

Ms Hughes said she would be contacting the council as it was not a safe place.

“It’s too dangerous. It’s been raining for weeks so it’s so slippery there’s no return if you’re up on the top,” she said.

“Once you get up there it’s so high you lose your balance, it’s so sad.”

A 19-year-old Manunda woman has died after a fall at Isabella Falls at Edmonton.

“There’s only vines to hang on to, if you go on one of those vines you then end up on a rock.”

Longtime Edmonton resident Terri Cantarella-Knight said she had “seen so many people die” at the popular Isabella Falls.

She formerly lived next to the attraction, on Rainforest Road, saying the sounds of emergency helicopters and paramedics rushing to the site were not uncommon.

“My heart aches for her family,” she said.

“Having been born here in 66, I’ve seen so many people die up there. “

Ms Cantarella Knight said it needed to be barricaded.

Council have been contacted for comment.

EARLIER: POLICE will prepare a report for the coroner after a young woman died at a waterfall south of Cairns on Monday afternoon.

Emergency services rushed to reports a person had plunged from Isabella Falls at Waterfall Close in Edmonton about 3pm on Monday.

Paramedics have assessed a 19-year-old Manunda woman in a critical condition with critical injuries, but she sadly did not survive.

A Queensland Police Service spokesman said the circumstances of the young woman’s death were non-suspicious and the report to the coroner would consider whether it was a case of misadventure.

The Devil's Pool section of the Babinda Boulders has claimed a number of lives. Picture: Brendan Radke

The tragedy comes just months after the body of Edmonton teen Chloe Narelle Bailey was found at the Babinda Boulders in December.

Ms Bailey’s body was located in the water early on December 21, after it was reported she had fallen in the day prior.

Prior to that, a 37-year-old Brisbane man who was camping with a friend at the boulders had vanished, after reportedly plunging into the notorious Devil’s Pool, in October 2020.

And earlier that year in April, emergency services and rescue crews located the body of 18-year-old White Rock student, Madison Tam, who had also disappeared under the water while swimming in the notorious Devil’s Pool area of the Boulders.

Meanwhile, a man in his late 20s on Monday was taken to Townsville Hospital in a critical condition sustained during a fall at Alligator Creek.

He was identified as having injuries to his face, chest, arms and pelvis by emergency crews who responded to a report of the man falling from the top of Alligator Falls, before landing on the rocks below and slipping into the water.

Originally published as Young woman dies after plunge from Isabella Falls