Below is a list of canyoning deaths in canyons around Sydney, and any information about them. While this may seem a bit morbid, the main reason is to try and learn from mistakes.
Any additional information would be appreciated. The Canyoning Australia site also has a forum on accidents.
[Note some of the ones below are tenuous]
19/03/2023 - Wollangambe (2)
Munib Dar (39) drowned after he slipped and became stuck between boulders in Wollangambe Canyon
https://www.bluemountainsgazette.com.au/story/8127200/body-of-missing-canyoner-found-at-mt-wilson/
02/01/2021 - Wollangambe
Senior Constable Kelly Foster (39) and Chinese international student Yuanlei (Jennifer) Qi (24) died when they were sucked into a siphon (whirlpool) while liloing in Wollangambe Canyon
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-01-03/nsw-police-resume-search-for-missing-canyoners-blue-mountains/13028364
https://canyoning.org.au/forum/viewtopic.php?t=812
https://www.bluemountainsgazette.com.au/story/7964384/no-inquest-into-canyon-deaths-of-two-women-at-mt-wilson-deputy-nsw-coroner/
02/09/2019 - Wolgan Valley
Roy Barlow (65) fell and died while abseiling at the end of a canyon in the Wolgan Valley
https://canyoning.org.au/forum/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=789
24/12/2011 - near Carrington Falls
Paramedic Mick Wilson died during a rescue operation when a winching operation went wrong. The rescue helicopter crew that he was part of was trying to rescue a canyoner who was badly injured after falling when his rope cut over a sharp edge.
https://canyoning.org.au/forum/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=572
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/paramedic-dies-trying-to-rescue-injured-canyoner-at-carrington-falls-on-nsw-south-coast/story-e6freuy9-1226230134203
https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/OzCanyons/conversations/messages/14614 (login required)
14/01/2010 - Wollangambe/Whungee Wheengee
Nick Delaney (15) died after a rock fell on him. His party had been lost for a couple of days.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/OzCanyons/message/12452 (log in required)
http://www.smh.com.au/national/six-set-out-and-one-boy-never-came-back-20100114-ma8m.html
25/02/2008 - Empress
An American visitor died after collapsing on the abseil
http://groups.google.com/group/australian-accident-register/browse_thread/thread/5ae4e8b9d13348fa
http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/tourist-dies-in-blue-mountains/2008/02/26/1203788282583.html
06/12/2007 - Claustral
Ian Knapp (61) died after becoming jammed in the final technical obstacle in high water
http://groups.google.com/group/australian-accident-register/browse_thread/thread/3e45c88f09a48dbe
31/12/06 - Danae Brook
Ben Porter (31) died after slipping over the edge of Kanangra Walls in the dark on the exit
http://groups.google.com/group/australian-accident-register/browse_thread/thread/77c1fa7a25bbda23
http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/abseilers-fatal-fall-in-the-dark/2007/01/01/1167500061885.html
22/01/2005 - Empress
Matthew Donovan (32) died in high water in the second last pool
http://groups.google.com/group/australian-accident-register/browse_thread/thread/08d02bcbbb98153f
http://groups.google.com/group/aus.bushwalking/msg/1bcf7326bdf6ccb6
??/01/2004 - Whungee Wheengee
Steven Connolly Snr died, probably from a stroke
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/OzCanyons/message/3743 (log in required)
http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/01/10/1073437524577.html
24/11/2002 - Bungleboori
Daniusz Sadowski (34) died after not clipping in to his abseil device correctly. His party had been lost for a couple of days.
http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2002/11/27/1038386204207.html
http://groups.google.com/group/australian-accident-register/browse_thread/thread/fd8bc757d044085d
11/03/2001 - Bowens Creek
A female canyoner died in high water just before the first abseil
http://groups.google.com/group/australian-accident-register/browse_thread/thread/9c197bc2e6531518
http://groups.google.com/group/aus.bushwalking/browse_thread/thread/5a04d1f
13a0065f3/a5b89ccfbe9d3a80?hl=en&lnk=gst&q=canyoning+death
http://members.ozemail.com.au/~dnoble/canyoningnews3.html
12/06/2000 - Carra Beanga
Mark Charles (25) and Steve Rogers (25) died on an abseil
http://groups.google.com/group/australian-accident-register/browse_thread/thread/a3ab7a6a57f2d0f1
a copy of the article from the Good Weekend magazine on the NUMC deaths in Carra Beanga Canyon in June 2000
11/06/2000 - Tiger Snake
Keith Campbell (20) died when a sandstone edge gave way and he fell 40m
http://groups.google.com/group/australian-accident-register/browse_thread/thread/4c1bfe7ad28c93b4
http://groups.google.com/group/aus.bushwalking/browse_thread/thread/06c9a539aa8cf2d5#
19/12/1999 - Twister
A canyoner died when a party of 2 were unable to find the exit route, tried to climb out via an alternate route, and two holds broke causing the person to fall.
http://members.ozemail.com.au/~dnoble/canyoningnews2.htm
~08/04/1999 - Wollangambe
Siobhan Halls (17) died after being dragged underwater in high water
http://members.ozemail.com.au/~dnoble/canyoningnews2.htm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/405497.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/405497.stm
17/04/1997 - Kalang Falls
Phil Atkinson died after falling about 8m down a waterfall
http://www.bushwalking.org.au/bushwalkingmag/nmag23215.html
31/01/1982 - Claustral (flash flood, 3 people from SPAN Outdoors died)
Back from the Brink - Andy Macqueen
https://web.archive.org/web/20060821221639/http://www.nhvss.org.au/pubs/Newcaves11.pdf
??/09/1981 - Margaret Falls (Dione Dell)
David Irvine (16) died when he got stuck on a knot on the 110m Margaret Falls.
https://web.archive.org/web/20200924205935/http://www.bushwalkermagazine.org/The%20Newsletters/vol-7-no-1-december-1981.pdf
??/12/1974 - Arethusa
Graham Lawler (28) drowned, possibly as a result of suffering cramps
Back from the Brink - Andy Macqueen
| From: David Noble Reply-to: OzCanyons@yahoogroups.com To: OzCanyons@yahoogroups.com Subject: Re: [OzCanyons] canyoning deaths |
There have been a few deaths near Kanangra. One was a girl in a SUSS party (mid 80's?) who did not clip into the rope correctly (or at all?) on an abseil in Kanangra Falls (on of the lower ones) And not long after - a male person died on a "Canyon" near Kanangra - I think his party were attempting to abseil down a gully between Kalang and Kanangra Falls. The was also the death of a caver (SSS I think) in the mid 70's - in Arethusa - I think from cold water induced heart attack. This should be also in "Back From The Brink" Dave -------------------------------------------------------- |