Briton dies in Australian canyon fall

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jun/16/briton-dies-australia-canyon-fall

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A British woman has died after falling nearly 100ft while walking in a remote canyon in central Australia.

The 23-year-old was treated at the scene after falling from the Rim Walk at Kings Canyon, in Watarrka national park, on Sunday afternoon but died a short time later.

Other tourists raised the alarm when they saw the woman fall, and park rangers were the first on the scene, according to Edwin Edlund, spokesman for the Northern Territory parks and wildlife service.

The woman is believed to have been with a tour group when the incident happened. The four-mile rim walk skirts the edge of Kings Canyon and descends into the Garden of Eden oasis. The sides of the gorge are up to 100m high at some points.

A spokesman for Northern Territory police, fire and emergency services said: "Police are investigating the death of a 23-year-old British woman who fell from the Rim Walk at Kings Canyon Sunday afternoon. A coordinated response from police, Watarrka national park ranger station, Kings Canyon clinic staff, district medical officer, St John Ambulance and NT emergency service were able to locate and retrieve the woman who had fallen 30 metres."

A Foreign Office spokesman said: "We are aware of the death of a British national on 16 June in the King Canyon area of Australia. We are providing consular assistance to the family at this difficult time."

Northern Territory's parks and wildlife commission defended the safety of the walking track. Central Australian Parks director Chris Day told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation there had been minor falls at the spot in the past but more than 200,000 people completed the walk safely each year.

"They need to just heed the warning signs, stay on the marked walking track," he said. "The vast majority of people undertake this walk with no problems."