Tributes paid to Sydney kayaker

TRIBUTES have come in for the Sydney man who died on a kayaking trip to Far North Queensland.

The group of four men and one woman, from NSW, Victoria and Tasmania, are understood to be experienced kayakers who had been paddling along the North Johnstone River, Wooroonooran National Park, about 5km from Malanda on Thursday.

But the visitors hit trouble when a 37-year-old Sydney man’s kayak became wedged in rocks after he went over a waterfall. After 24 hours of rescue efforts, crews retrieved a body on Friday afternoon.

Police will now prepare a report for the coroner.

“He is a good friend and business partner,” Alvin Cabral said. “I am really shocked to hear this sad news.

“My deepest sympathies to his family and friends.”

Queensland Fire and Emergency Services Area Commander for the Western Command, Inspector Shane Jarvis co-ordinated the challenging rescue operation in conjunction with police.

He said the other four kayakers would return home in the coming days.

“They were there with us,” he said.

“They’re resilient, this is their world and they understand the risks.”

Rescue crews returned to the remote site on the North Johnstone River on Saturday to retrieve equipment.