A man aged in his 60s died after collapsing on the abseil rope on the
30m drop beside the falls at the end of Empress Canyon. The man was
visiting Australia from the USA and was part of a commercially guided
trip, the weather was fine. He was about 8m from the bottom when he
slumped onto the rope. A bottom belay was in use and the man was
lowered into the pool and pulled across the water (approx 10m) onto
the flat rocks at the bottom by a guide and others in the group.
First aid and CPR was given for approx 90 minutes until ambulance
officers and police arrived. The emergency crews could not revive the
man. A police helicopter removed the man's body from the site. Exact
cause of death is not known at this stage but police issued a
statement indicating that a post mortem will be conducted.

LEVEL 3 REPORT