We hate to cover these stories on here, but it seems like the message isn’t getting out so here we are.
And that message is that you need to maintain situational awareness at all times while taking photographs, even with your smartphone. The number of people who die in accidents, just like this one, is too great. (asr.adventistas)
Please pay attention to what’s going on around you and be careful.
That said, today’s story follows a familiar tune. A mother in Australia was hiking around Grampians National Park last Saturday.
She tumbled 260 feet to her death after climbing a protective barrier at the famous Boroka Lookout. It took more than six hours for the Victoria Police and State Emergency Service to retrieve her body using a winch. In addition to railings, multiple signs warning visitors of the dangers they face are posted around the popular tourist site.
A warning on the police website reads in part:
“One of the issues that is constantly tying up our resources is individuals risking life and limb in a bid to get the ultimate selfie…We regularly see dangerous photos and videos geo-tagged to the area where individuals have compromised their own safety to get a particular shot.”
It continues: “We also frequently work with local rescue teams on missions to bring individuals to safety who have ignored signage and climbed over safety barriers or fencing. Our missions do not always have successful outcomes.”
A tour guide had warned his group thirty minutes prior to the accident about this kind of thing happening. Too Fab cites a report of a British woman in 1999 that met a similar fate – way before the era of selfies. Again, that underscores our central premise that is you need to be situationally aware at all times as much as possible.
What do you think we can do to make accidents like this fewer in the future? Of course, we would love to know your thoughts on this in the comments section below.
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[Too Fab]
3 Comments
What do you think we can do to make accidents like this fewer in the future? – Nothing whilst self obsessed individuals continue to think it won’t happen / doesn’t apply to them – there’s plenty of other parallels especially when driving – texting, speeding, tailgating, brake checking and/or excessive use of drugs and alcohol. Put up all the notices you like, show ‘shock’ films or whatever – the shallow end of the gene pool will never accept it.
A climb-proof fence seems to be needed at these spots. Made of clear perspex for observation and with slits to allow photos.
This approach has been successful at several motorway bridge suicide spots in the UK. I’m not sure the suicide rate has fallen but motorway drivers are now safer from falling bodies.
Climb proof fence. Sorry, silly idea. Not only would that ruin one of the nicer lookouts, but the Grampians contain dozens, and possibly hundreds, of spots from which the foolish can test the effects of gravity. I was at that spot just the other day, and two young women separately decided to shoot selfies from the edge. I made sure my camera was position to catch them going. Consider it evolution in action.
A simply sign showing “Days since the last fall might be effective though”. Or perhaps not.