Drowning death at Cairns swimming hole highlights need for improved safety signage

The discovery of the body of a 20-year-old by Queensland Police divers at the Crystal Cascades swimming hole last night has prompted Cairns Regional Council to close the attraction to the public.

As reported by the ABC, emergency services were called to the popular in the Far North Queensland swimming hole in Redlynch, near Cairns, around 3:30pm on Sunday after a swimmer went missing.

The search was paused on Sunday night but resumed Monday morning with divers arriving from Brisbane to help with the search. The man's body was recovered around 6pm Monday.

This drowning death at Crystal Cascades follows another fatal incident in April 2023 when a father and son drowned.

The Crystal Cascades are a series of swimming holes and cascades along Freshwater Creek near Cairns in Far North Queensland. The furthest waterhole along the 1.5 kilometre track has a pair of picturesque waterfalls.

The largest waterhole is under a sheer cliff; the highest point of the cliff is called 'No Fear' and locals jump into the water from here – which has resulted in a few fatalities. The waterfall and creek flows year-round, being fed by a large catchment area.

At the time of the drownings in 2023, the family of the deceased called for improved signage and safety equipment. Some community members have also been campaigning for better signage at other swimming holes popular with tourists.

Tourism Tropical North Queensland issues a warning alongside their promotion of Crystal Cascades noting “there may be hidden submerged rocks in nearby pools - remember to always obey the signs and warnings.”

In 2023, Cairns Regional Council commissioned a report on the safety of Babinda Boulders - another swimming area south of Cairns, which had also claimed multiple lives.

Babinda Boulders is a natural area, managed by Cairns Regional Council. It is situated in the foothills of the Bellenden Ker range in tropical North Queensland. This location is a popular swimming and picnic spot for locals and tourists, and a place of spiritual significance for Aboriginal people. As well as being the location of many happy recreational memories for visitors, this site also has a tragic history of drownings.

Records indicate that, since 1916, 21 people have drowned at this location. Since April 2020 three drownings have occurred at this location prompting Cairns Regional Council to revisit their approach to the management of this site.

The report highlighted the need for signage in the immediate vicinity of the 'No Go Zone' to have a clear visual difference to the signage that is communicating manageable risks at all the access swimming areas and recommended the prohibition symbol must be used to communicate this message ie 'High-risk of death beyond this point', or similar wording.

The report also notes the need for signage targeting the most at-risk age group (19-34) that focusses on improving risk awareness prior to reaching the 'No Go Zone'. This signage must be noticeable and easily understood. 

Access the Cairns Regional Council report on the safety of Babinda Boulders 

Image top: Cairns Crystal Cascades Credit: Tourism Tropical North Queensland; image above: cover of Cairns Regional Council report on the safety of Babinda Boulders. Credit: Cairns Regional Council