Seventeen-year-old girl fell off waterfall at Queensland’s Wappa Falls and 17-year-old boy died after jumping in to help her
Two 17-year-olds have died in the Sunshine Coast hinterland after one slipped into a raging waterfall and her friend dived in to try to rescue her.
The teenagers were at Wappa Falls below the Wappa Dam on the South Maroochy River inland from the town of Yandina when the tragic accident occurred on Sunday afternoon, after heavy overnight rain.
The 17-year-old girl slipped and fell into the water at about 2.30pm.
Her companion, a 17-year-old boy, dived in after in an attempt to rescue her but neither resurfaced.
A search and rescue operation found the girl’s body about 3.30pm and divers recovered the body of the boy about 7.30pm.
The ABC has reported that both teenagers were locals.
Wappa Falls is a popular swimming hole that is said to be pleasant and tranquil when water levels are low and conditions calm, but has proven deadly when its waters rage.
A 49-year-old Toowoomba man drowned there in January 2022 after leaping in to rescue his son, who did survive.
At Wappa, water falls off a ledge estimated at about 10 metres high, with the stream forming two main branches around a jutting rock and then plunging into a deep pool below.
It is directly downstream from Wappa Dam, which supplies the coast with drinking water. After months of heavy rains, it is at more than 100% capacity and water is spilling over its dam walls, gushing into the river below.
In such conditions, the pool below Wappa Falls churns and swirls, with locals describing underwater suction and caves.
Yandina recorded more than 50mm of rain overnight on Saturday.
Wappa Falls remained closed amid a police investigation and officers were to prepare reports for the coroner regarding both teenagers.
Nicklin MP Marty Hunt offered his condolences to the families of the two teenagers as the community grieves the loss of the young lives.
“Our hearts go out to the families of the two individuals who tragically lost their lives at the waterfall,” he said in a statement.
“Two families are enduring unimaginable pain right now and on behalf of the community I offer our deepest condolences during this time.”
Seqwater has issued a warning about waterways and floodplains after recent heavy downpours across the state.
“Avoid potential hazards downstream of the dam such as fast flowing or deep water near waterways and floodplains,” Seqwater said.
“These hazards potentially threaten the safety of you and your property.”
Wappa Falls remained closed amid a police investigation and officers were to prepare reports for the coroner regarding both teenagers.
