Man’s horror fall at notorious waterfall in Far North Queensland

A man is fighting for his life after he fell from rocks at a notorious waterfall in Far North Queensland.

Man’s horror fall at notorious waterfall

A man is fighting for his life after he fell from a ledge at a notorious waterfall in Far North Queensland.

Paramedics rushed to Crystal Cascades near Cairns on Sunday around 3.20pm following reports a man had fallen up to 3m down an embankment, a Queensland Fire Department spokesperson told news.com.au.

The man, believed to be in his 30s, was rushed to Cairns Hospital with life-threatening head injuries.

A man has sustained life-threatening head injuries after he fell three metres off a ledge at Crystal Cascades waterfall in far North Queensland.

The state’s fire department conducted led a delicate rescue operation to retrieve the critically injured man out of the dense terrain.

A department spokesperson told news.com.au emergency responders were able to assist Queensland Ambulance Service to get the man onto a stretcher.

“He had fallen from a ledge on his way to Crystal Cascades,” a Queensland Ambulance Service spokesperson told news.com.au.

In March, emergency services tried to locate a missing tourist who submerged under a waterfall on the upper reaches of Freshwater Creek and didn't resurface. Picture: Brendan Radke

Crystal Cascades, west of Cairns, is popular among local and international tourists.

However, some have tragically lost their lives at the hotspot.

In March, an international tourist died after leaping from a ledge at the waterfall – and failing to resurface.

Tragically, police divers located the 20-year-old’s body the following night.

No-go zones are clearly marked at Crystal Cascades with big signs. Picture: Sharon Dowman

The man reportedly spent eight minutes underwater after becoming submerged under a waterfall.

At the time, he is believed to have been swimming at the top set of waterfalls, which are marked as a no-swim zone.

A 21-year-old man and a 59-year-old man were declared dead in April 2023 after they were found unresponsive in waters near the falls.

Cairns councillor Brett Moller said “something must be done” about visitors ignoring signage and swimming regardless of warnings.

“Heavy rain pushed up the level of the water and, of course, in the upper reaches of these creeks and rivers, we have fast-flowing currents, we have granite rocks, we have waterfalls, we have undercurrents,” he told Yahoo News in March.

“So while they are pristine and beautiful natural environments, they have inherent dangers, particularly with the flooding waters.

“We’ve got to get that message out to visitors that might be coming and enjoying those particular swimming spots.”