Inquest to hear of peril lurking at falls

A CORONIAL inquest into the deaths of two swimmers at Josephine Falls will reveal deceptive water conditions and frustrating gaps in phone coverage that hampered their rescue.

The four-day hearing into the drownings of English tourist Thomas Hunt in 2016 and South Korean Younguen Kim last year will begin at Cairns Magistrates Court in April.

Counsel assisting Coroner Nerida Wilson, Joseph Crawfoot, told a pre-inquest conference the incidents showed a “lack of appreciation for the risk of the area that could change suddenly and the need to provide assistance at the earliest opportunity”.

Mr Hunt, 26, was an experienced lifeguard but nevertheless was caught in a strong current in Josephine Creek – which fed the falls – and was swept away by an undertow.

His companion, a Canadian swimming teacher, struggled to obtain a mobile phone signal to call 000.

Last year Younguen Kim, 24, also succumbed to the perilous waters.

Ms Kim was not a confident swimmer and when she entered the creek on January 28, soon found herself in difficulties against the creek’s strong current.

“It carried her to the far side of Josephine Creek, where there was no public access,” Mr Crawfoot said.

Ms Kim managed to grab a boulder and for 45 minutes held on until a Victorian tourist called 000, again struggling with the poor signal in the area.

She was swept away before swift water rescue crews could reach her and her body was recovered later the same evening.

“It highlights how conditions at Josephine Falls can change,” Mr Crawfoot said.

He told the conference that in 2017 there were four recorded instances of people being stuck on the far back of Josephine Falls, and one rescue from the falls last month.

Coroner Wilson adjourned the inquest to begin on April 8