Bushwalk Australia

A French university student has died after falling from the cliffs at Royal NP

The two reports are conflicting. Sydney Morning Herald http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/man-dead-afte ... zs0zi.html has him rock climbing while the ABC has him as just bushwalking http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-06-08/m ... rk/5508588

Looks like he was walking the coast track. Easy enough to step off the edge in some places if you aren't careful.

Saw the TV news reports last night. Apparently he was bushwalking with a group of friends from Wollongong Uni. On the chalky white cliffs around Marley beach section, he fell whilst he was dangling off the cliff on his hands and the soft sandstone crumbled at the edges. It sounded like he was mucking about and trying some rock climbing skills. It didn't sound like an innocent bushwalking accident.

Sydney Morning Herald reports that they where walking the Coastal Track and he decided to hang off Wedding Cake Rock (one of many names for it), the soft sandstone gave way and he fell. Terrible for his friends and family, our thoughts are with them.

deleted

Lindsay wrote:Looks like he was walking the coast track. Easy enough to step off the edge in some places if you aren't careful.

It would be pretty hard to "step off the edge", whether you were careful or not. I've run and walked it dozens of times, including at night time, and inadvertently stepping off the edge was never a risk as far as I was concerned.

Clarence

clarence wrote:

Lindsay wrote:Looks like he was walking the coast track. Easy enough to step off the edge in some places if you aren't careful.

It would be pretty hard to "step off the edge", whether you were careful or not. I've run and walked it dozens of times, including at night time, and inadvertently stepping off the edge was never a risk as far as I was concerned.

Clarence

If you have walked and run it dozens of times then naturally you will be far less at risk of stepping off the edge than someone who has never done so.

The track at what appears to be the accident site is a distance away from the cliff edge, however many people do detour to the cliff edge where there is no railing. What seems to be the case in this situation however, is that the person was climbing over the ledge to pose for a photo. It doesn't seem to be a case of accidentally walking off.

The fact is he was acting like an idiot and he paid the ultimate cost...No need to make excuses for him.

puredingo wrote:The fact is he was acting like an idiot and he paid the ultimate cost...No need to make excuses for him.

Do you see the entire world this black and white?

I for one, would prefer to read the coroners report (or something similar) before condemning the man.

According to reports, the deceased worked as a rock climbing instructor for 4 years, so he should have some ideas of the risks involved and limits.

Sorry, my apologies.

Apologies? For what?

About the Black and White statement. I'll stick with withholding my judgement until I see a detailed report.

That's most righteous of you.

Regardless of the intelligence of what may or may not have happened still a young bloke died in front of his mates...gotta feel for them.
Another reminder of how quickly it can all be taken away...

icefest wrote:

puredingo wrote:The fact is he was acting like an idiot and he paid the ultimate cost...No need to make excuses for him.

Do you see the entire world this black and white?

I for one, would prefer to read the coroners report (or something similar) before condemning the man.[/quote

Mate, obviously I'm not happy about the bloke being dead but eye witness reports comfirm it was an act of his own doing that led to his demise. Knowing the place well it borders on suicide rather than risk.

I've pulled some pretty risky stuff too in my life and not but for the grace of god would I be here to annoy you'se, BUT my point is if you want to dance you have to pay the band and that's a thrill seekers lot.

icefest wrote:I'll stick with withholding my judgement until I see a detailed report.

I tend to agree with icefest's position. It seems to me that every time there is a bushwalking incident in the news, it is posted straight to the forum even though the news is generally light on facts at the time of posting, and even for a long time afterwards. I am sure that many of us have taken risks and perhaps have been reckless in many aspects in life, and don't have a drama 99.9% of the time. But remember that there is always the possibility that any of us may have an accident in the bush, and then if that happens to make the media the actions leading to that accident will be discussed and judged right here online before the facts have been laid bare. Just my 2c worth and something I think about every time a bushwalking incident gets posted to the forum from a media report...

perfectlydark wrote:Regardless of the intelligence of what may or may not have happened still a young bloke died in front of his mates...gotta feel for them.
Another reminder of how quickly it can all be taken away...

I totally agree