A man suffered life-threatening head injuries after falling from a ledge at a famous waterfall and swimming spot popular with visitors.
Emergency services responded quickly. Crystal Cascades, near Cairns in Far North Queensland, to rescue a man who slipped and fell three metres down an embankment on Sunday afternoon.
The state fire department carried out a delicate rescue operation to recover the seriously injured man who was rushed to Cairns Hospital.
A department spokesman confirmed that emergency services were able to place the man on a stretcher and remove him from the dense ground.
Locals reported seeing ambulances rushing to the area at the time of the incident.
Crystal Cascades is a series of pools and waterfalls on Freshwater Creek, just a 20-minute drive from Cairns.
The popular tourist spot has become infamous in recent years after several visitors lost their lives there.
Experts have suggested putting up warning signs for tourists who may be unaware of the dangers of the trails.
Man fighting for life after falling off ledge at Crystal Cascades near Cairns
In March, a 20-year-old international student went missing after jumping off a ledge into the water at Crystal Cascades and failing to surface.
In April 2023, a father and son, aged 59 and 21, died after being found unconscious in the waters near the falls.
An 18-year-old man died in 2014 after slipping over the edge of the waterfall and failing to get back to the surface.
RJ Houston, Royal Life’s lifesaving industry and capability manager, suggested that signs be placed along walking trails to warn tourists of the dangers they face.
The area has become famous for a large number of tourists who have been injured or killed after falling from the ledges.
“Whether it’s installing signs, or rescue equipment, or patrol services, we also have to consider that there’s a really significant cost if those things aren’t done,” Houston said. he told ABC in March.
“We really need to fully assess the benefits of safe activity in these places, as well as the full costs of not creating safer environments.”
Sections of Crystal Cascades were closed earlier this year following an assessment of water levels and associated risks and safety to the public.
Heavy rainfall caused a significant amount of water to flow rapidly into local water systems, increasing the risk of visitors slipping on rocks and being swept away, being injured by debris, or being trapped by submerged objects.