The second man within a week to plunge to his death at a scenic waterfall popular for Instagram selfies has been remembered by shattered loved ones as a kind-hearted soul who had his life ahead of him as calls grow to permanently shut the tourist hotspot.
Patrick Prevett, 22, from Queanbeyan was visiting Gibraltar Falls, south-west of Canberra with his sister and friends on Saturday when he slipped at the top of the 50-metre cascade waterfall, sparking a frantic search.
He was found unconscious in the water and couldn’t be revived, despite the desperate efforts from paramedics to save him.
He is the second young man within a week to die at the same scenic spot where university student Thomas Livingston, 19, plunged to his death six days earlier.
Authorities have revealed public access to the waterfall had been closed since Tuesday, four days before Mr Prevett died.
Patrick Prevett is the second man within a week to die at Gibraltar Falls, a popular waterfall
Calls are growing to permanently shut the popular spot, or at least until a thorough safety review can be completed.
‘I have attended Gibraltar Falls with rangers from the ACT Parks and Conservation Service to inspect the visitor facilities including warning signs, designated walking tracks, guardrails and viewing platforms and identify opportunities to further strengthen the safety measures that are already in place,’ ACT conservator of flora and fauna Bren Burkevics said last week.
‘The ACT Parks and Conservation Service advises against swimming or walking in non-designated areas within our parks and reserves.’
Gibraltar Falls is a popular spot for Instagram selfies, despite warnings to stay away from the cliff. This photo was shared just three weeks ago
Friends have rallied around Mr Prevett’s shattered family and set up an online fundraiser to help raise funds towards his funeral.
‘We are raising funds to help celebrate and remember Patrick Prevett, and give him the ceremony and send off he deserves,’ the page states.
‘Devastatingly the Prevett family has lost a son, a brother, a nephew, an uncle and a friend. Pat was a young and kind hearted man who had so much life in front of him.
‘His family are so proud of the man he was and the life he was building, he is now watching over us all. His passing has shattered the hearts of so many family and friends.’
Almost $2000 has already been raised.
Patrick Prevett slipped and plunged to his death at Gibraltar Falls (pictured), south-west of Canberra on Saturday
Anyone who witnessed Mr Prevett’s death, who has not already spoken to ACT police, is urged to come forward.
The latest tragedy comes less than a week after Thomas Livingston lost his footing and plunged to his death last Sunday.
Public access to the waterfall was closed off last Tuesday, four days before Mr Prevett died.
‘The Gibraltar Falls waterfall and walking track are closed until further notice,’ ACT Parks and Conservation states on its website.
The website also urges visitors to not swim above the waterfall.
There are also signs at the site warning visitors to steer clear of the dangerous cliff edge and to stick to the path ‘for your own safety.’
Geoffrey Rutledge, the deputy director general of the Environment, Water and Emissions Reduction department of the ACT Government said access to the waterfall will remain off-limits until a safety review is completed, which is expected to take a number of weeks.
‘The signage does show that we don’t want people near the edges and we don’t see it as a swimming hole,’ he told reporters on Sunday.
‘We have many swimming holes within our parks. We don’t consider Gibraltar Falls a swimming hole.’
University student Thomas Livingston (pictured), 19, fell from Gibraltar Falls last Sunday
ACT Parks and Conservation on its website urges visitors to not swim above the waterfall
The scenic location has also become a popular spot for selfies, despite warnings to stay away from the cliff.
‘I was on top of a freaking waterfall,’ one woman captioned her photos shared to Instagram just three weeks ago.
Two years ago, newspaper Canberra Times also shared visitors’ selfies while urging people to enjoy the great outdoors, which has since public outrage in the wake of the two recent deaths.
‘Featuring the falls is still a great way to encourage people to go out, but perhaps either drone photos or of ones from where people are at the viewing platform,’ one man commented on the post on Monday.
Another added: ‘#dumbwaystodie.’
Mr Livingston had been a member of the Sydney Rowing Club and had moved to Canberra from NSW to attend Australian National University.
Rowing NSW paid tribute to the young man in a statement, remembering him as a ‘hardworking oarsman’.
‘Tom was a down-to-earth, hardworking oarsman, having rowed and been Captain of Boats and a senior prefect at his school Shore,’ the club wrote.
Mr Livingston was selected in the Australian under-19 men’s eight but was unable to tour due to the pandemic.
‘Rowing Australia is incredibly saddened to hear of the tragic passing of Tom Livingstone over the weekend,’ the club wrote.
‘We send our deepest condolences to Tom’s family and friends.’
Warning signs at the scenic spot urge visitors to keep well away from the cliff edge
