Man, 45, dead after Boxing Day kayaking tragedy on South Johnstone River

An experienced white water kayaker has spoken about the notoriously dangerous water rapids where a man tragically died on Boxing Day.

A kayaker has died in dangerous water rapids in remote Far North Queensland.

The man, 45, went missing on December 26 during a kayak trip on the South Johnstone River near Gulngai, about 50km west of Innisfail.

Emergency services were still working to retrieve his body on Wednesday afternoon.

The conditions on the ground are muddy and humid and preparations are consistently interrupted by showers.

“At this stage, we will attempt retrieval by helicopter, but this has not yet been confirmed due to conditions,” Queensland Police OIC Senior Sergeant Doug Goodwin said.

The QGAir helicopter has been unable to land at the South Johnstone River location to retrieve the body of the deceased man due to harsh weather conditions. Picture: Stewart McLean

Andy Heiner, an experienced Far North white water kayaker, said that section of the South Johnstone River was generally avoided, even by experienced kayakers.

“That river is generally not paddled,” Mr Heiner said.

“Below campground on (the South Johnstone) is very dangerous with waterfalls and has only been paddled by the best paddlers in the community.

“Most of those who have paddled the lower section say they do not want to do it again.”

A police spokesman said emergency services were called about 6.50pm on Monday to reports a man had failed to surface after falling from his kayak and entering an area of fast water rapids.

Far North SES crews at the South Johnstone River campground preparing to extract the body of a deceased kayaker. Picture: Alison Paterson

“The search and rescue operation was immediately launched, (using) assets including police, a helicopter, swift water rescue and SES,” the spokesman said.

“The search resumed on December 27 … the man was found deceased late in the afternoon.

“Due to the dangerous nature of the water, the dense rainforest location and inclement weather conditions, the man could not be immediately removed from the site. Police and emergency services have returned this morning and resumed their attempts to remove his body from the remote location.”

Emergency crews plan the extraction of a deceased kayaker's body from a dangerous section of the South Johnstone River. Picture: Alison Paterson

Crews from the SES and QFES swift water rescue team entered the dense bushland about 2pm to execute the first stages of the extraction, but little progress was made by 3.30pm.

“We really want to thank the SES volunteers who are here today to support the police and QFES,” Sergeant Goodwin said.

Another man, believed to be in his 30s, was kayaking with the man who died but was able to self-rescue.

A QAS spokesman said he was treated on scene by paramedics but did not require transport to hospital.

Originally published as Man, 45, dead after Boxing Day kayaking tragedy on South Johnstone River