I while ago I tried to compile a list of canyoning deaths, and any
information about them. While it may seem a bit of a morbid thing to do, the main reason
was to try and learn from other people's mistakes.
All I've done is trawl through books
and archives to try and come up with the information below (and relevant links). However,
I imagine there are some people who have been canyoning longer than I that might be able
to add to some of the ones below, or inform me of others that I do not know about. Any
information would be appreciated.
[Note some of the ones below are tenuous]
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
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
http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2002/11/27/1038386204207.html
http://lithgow.yourguide.com.au/detail.asp?class=news&subclass=local&story_id=194641
&category=General+News&m=11&y=2002
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#a5b89ccfbe9d3a80
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
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
http://members.ozemail.com.au/~dnoble/canyoningnews2.htm
??/04/1999 - Wollangambe
Siobhan Halls (17) died after being dragged under water
http://members.ozemail.com.au/~dnoble/canyoningnews2.htm
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
??/01/1982 - Claustral (flash flood, 3 people from SPAN Outdoors died)
Back from the Brink - Andy Macqueen
http://nhvss.org.au/NHVSS/Newcaves11.pdf
??/12/1974 - Arethusa
Graham Lawler (28) drowned, possibly as a result of suffering cramps
Back from the Brink - Andy Macqueen
From: David Noble <dnoble@ozemail.com.au>
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 Kanagra 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
--------------------------------------------------------
David Noble
dnoble@ozemail.com.au
http://www.ozemail.com.au/~dnoble
|
Tom Brennan : website@ozultimate.com
: updated 2008-04-04 |