Another man has lost his life at Gibraltar Falls in the ACT’s Namadgi National Park, just a week after the last fatality there.
ACT Policing said they received a report on Saturday that a 22-year-old man had fallen from Gibraltar Falls and could not be located.
Police from Tuggeranong Station, ACT Ambulance Service paramedics, ACT Fire & Rescue members and the Toll Rescue Helicopter were dispatched to the location, and the man was found unconscious in the water.
He was unable to be revived, and was pronounced deceased at the scene.
ACT Policing will prepare a report for the coroner.
Police were again called to the scene of tragedy at Gibraltar Falls. PIC: ACT Policing
Last week, a 19-year-old man fell to his death while walking across rocks in front of the falls.
That incident sparked an immediate safety review, and prompted wider questions about how to try to prevent future accidents in Australia’s wilderness areas.
At that time. ACT Conservator Flora and Fauna, Bren Burkevics, said the falls would be closed until the safety review was completed.
“I have attended Gibraltar Falls with rangers from the ACT Parks and Conservation Service to inspect the visitor facilities including warning signs, designated walking tracks, guardrails and viewing platforms and identify opportunities to further strengthen the safety measures that are already in place,” Mr Burkevics said. “The safety review is under way and is expected to take several weeks.”
The ACT government has said it does not want to permanently close Gibraltar Falls, despite the recent tragedies.
ACT deputy director-general of environment, water and emissions reduction, Geoffrey Rutledge, told the ABC the government wanted people to view the falls, not swim near them.
“The signage is clear that we want people to enjoy the falls, enjoy nature, and the tracks and trails are there to ensure that people, whether they are first-time users or seasoned bushwalkers, they enjoy nature in its elements,” he said. “We don’t consider Gibraltar Falls a swimming hole.”
Despite the signage, the ABC reports that many visitors to Gibraltar Falls take photos in the infinity-style pool just above the 50-metre waterfall drop, which are then displayed prominently on social media.
The ever-growing list of incidents and tragedies has left national park authorities facing something of a dilemma … how do they balance maximising the safety of visitors with allowing them full access to the incredible beauty of Australia’s stunning gorges, trails, mountains and rock pools.
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How about we keep the idiots out of our National Parks and let the sensible ones enjoy them. If a person collects a “Darwin Award” don’t punish those that toe the commonsense line.