Cliff fall victim identified as champion orienteer who was recently engaged

A man who fell to his death while bushwalking in the Scenic Rim last week was a champion orienteer who had recently become engaged to be married, his devastated community has revealed.

James Sheldon, 32, died while bushwalking at Mount Barney. Picture: Supplied

AN ENGINEER and champion orienteer who was killed while hiking in the Scenic Rim in southeast Queensland was recently engaged to be married, his devastated community has revealed.

James Sheldon, 32, was killed after he fell from a cliff at Mount Barney last week.

A Queensland Ambulance spokesman said crews were called to Lower Portals Rd at Mount Barney just before 11am after the hiker fell from a cliff.

A rescue helicopter with a critical care paramedic on board, as well as a ground crew, rushed to the scene. But Mr Sheldon tragically died after the fall.

James Sheldon was an experienced hiker and orienteer who had grown up near Mount Barney.

Wendy Read wrote a tribute to Mr Sheldon which has been shared throughout the orienteering community.

“James could perhaps be described as an enduring character, not just because of his amazing physical capabilities, but more so of his strong relationships with family, friends and loved ones,” she wrote in a tribute shared by Orienteering Queensland.

“His goofy smile, his quick-wit, his enduring warmth and companionship. At age 32, recently engaged, and with a promising engineering career, it is a life cut way too short.

“The forest sighs as we grieve for his family and for the loss of James – a beautiful son, brother, friend, lover, brother-in-law and uncle.”

Ms Read said Mr Sheldon was well known to the orienteering community and he had previously won championships.

“For some, Mt Barney is a wild and alluring place; for James, having grown up in the nearby township of Boonah, its ridges and ravines were his backyard,” she wrote.

“Born and raised to adventure, James was a skilled and experienced hiker, mountaineer, orienteer, climber and cyclist.

James Sheldon

James Sheldon

“For him, no peak was high enough, no headwind strong enough – always seeking unique and challenging adventures of the path less travelled.

“Whilst not a singular passion, orienteering was a sport James loved and excelled at.”

Mr Sheldon was a regular member of the Queensland Schools Orienteering team and 2005 was an exceptional year for him, Ms Read said.

“James won the Senior Boys class at the Australian Schools Orienteering Championships, was a member of Queensland‘s winning Senior Boys relay, and was selected in the Australian Schools Honour Team,” she wrote.

“He continued his interest in orienteering as an elite Queensland Cyclone where he performed strongly at many National Orienteering League events, and was selected in National Development squads.

“James was a valued member of Ugly Gully Orienteers, always willing to help organise events and collect controls from the most distant corners of the map.”

Originally published as Cliff fall victim identified as champion orienteer who was recently engaged