Tourist plunges to his death at Wentworth Falls

The holidaymaker was bushwalking with a group of seven friends on Sunday afternoon when he slipped over the edge of the waterfall about 2.15pm. 

Paramedics established the young man had died at the scene, but high winds meant police and ambulance rescue helicopters were unable to recover his body until Monday just before noon. 

The fall occurred while the man “was off the walking track” acting Inspector Ian Colless, the co-ordinator of the Blue Mountains Police Rescue Squad, told the Blue Mountains Gazette on Monday. 

Police issued a warning on Facebook after the incident reminding all park visitors to take care around cliffs and edges.

“Barriers, paths, railings and signs are in place for a reason — your safety. Wet areas, especially can be extremely hazardous,” the post by Blue Mountains Police Rescue said. 

The tourist landed upside down in water at a ledge near the bottom of the falls. A guard was placed by the body overnight on Sunday and three officers from police rescue walked and abseiled to the site on Monday to retrieve the man’s body. 

“These incidents are difficult and it is being fully investigated - we have taken a number of witness statements and will continue to take more,” Inspector Colless said.

A witness, Rosa Petroccitto, told the ABC she had seen a group of friends gathered on slippery rocks and had warned them to be careful.

“Then they went down to the next one and I knew something was going to happen,” she said.

“We just saw them all panic and a 20-year-old boy fell over the waterfall.”

The incident occurred at a popular rest area along the National Pass walk. More than 30 emergency workers were involved in the recovery operation which started at 8am on Monday. Inquiries into the fatal accident are continuing.

Inspector Colless said he could recall only one other death at that site in the past 15 years. He said the death was not suspicious.