Mary River tragedy: Gympie leads tributes for Tanya Hehir and Helen Bradford

Hundreds of members of Gympie’s community are paying tribute to two friends drowned in a Boxing Day stormwater drain tragedy at the Mary River which has devastated the region.

Mothers and outdoor adventure enthusiasts Helen Bradford and Tanya Hehir were tragically drowned when they were washed out of a stormwater drain and into the Mary River on Boxing Day shortly after 2.30pm.

Two Gympie friends drowned in a horrific Boxing Day stormwater drain tragedy are being remembered as lives “taken too soon” in an outpouring of grief and tributes from the community.

Mothers and outdoor adventure enthusiasts Helen Bradford and Tanya Hehir were tragically drowned when they were washed out of a stormwater drain and into the Mary River on Boxing Day shortly after 2.30pm.

A third woman, 46, who was with them at the time, managed to reach the river bank and call for help.

Police said she suffered “moderate injuries” in the incident.

Rescue workers launched a desperate search of the river, near Kidd Bridge in the centre of the city, shortly after.

Ms Bradford’s body was found by searchers about 7.10pm Tuesday.

Ms Hehir’s was recovered near the drain shortly after midday Wednesday.

Tanya Hehir and Helen Bradford (second from right, and right) were friends and avid outdoors adventurers who had tackled numerous hiking and walking trails.

Wide Bay Acting Superintendent Paul Algie said on Wednesday the women were “exploring” the drain.

They were “washed back through the drain out to the Mary River”.

He urged people to remember stormwater drains were not for “people to go exploring in” and what happened was a “tragic result of that adventuring”.

Police have declined to make any further comment.

The deaths of the two beloved mothers has devastated the community, with more than 430 comments and 1000 reactions left on The Gympie Times Facebook page alone in less than 24 hours.

The stormwater drain, known by locals at “the love tunnel”, has been a popular site of exploration among some members of the community for decades.

Several bouquets of flowers have been left at the Gympie Weir, about 30m from the entrance to the drain known locally as “the love tunnel”, and at the top of the entrance to the drain, a few metres off a nearby walking track.

It has been a popular exploration point for locals for decades.

Ms Hehir was a grand master at Gympie’s Hash House Harriers, known in the group as “Band Aid”, and a frequent run organiser on the group’s social media.

Members of the Harriers declined to comment at this time.

The drain exits on to the Mary River about 30m away from the Gympie Weir. Rescue crews scoured the area outside it across Tuesday night and Wednesday morning during their search efforts.

The Coffee Club Gympie, where Ms Bradford worked, said in a Facebook post shared on Thursday night that it was “devastated” by the tragedy.

“Helen was a lovely lady who always had time for a chat with all she met,” the post said.

“If you have been into our store you would have seen Helen running around helping everyone, always with a smile on her face.

“Because that is the type of person she was.

“Our store won’t feel the same without you.”

Flowers have been left around the entrance to the drain following the tragedy.

There was an outpouring of grief across social media too for the women.

Gympie and Districts and Netball Association said its “thoughts and prayers” were with the women’s families and friends over the “two lives taken way too soon”.

Margie Atkinson, who said she worked with Ms Hehir when she was in the real estate industry a few years back, remembered her as a “beautiful young woman”.

Kylie Stringer had been “filled with sadness” ever since the news broke.

“Helen (Bradford) was always so welcoming to our family for our traditional breakfasts out at the Coffee Club and we had begun to strike up great conversations – our best one yet was just the weekend before Xmas where you mentioned your excitement for Xmas and new year to be spent with your family and friends,” Ms Stringer said.

Shakyra Meredith said Ms Bradford was a “bright light to work with” and “there’s a huge hole left in our team”.

Originally published as Mary River tragedy: Gympie leads tributes for Tanya Hehir and Helen Bradford