Mystery surrounds the death of a female primary school teacher, 31, who died from head injuries after a fall on a hike
- Mystery surrounds a primary school teacher who died from head injuries
- The 31-year-old was on a hike in the Barron Gorge National Park when she fell
- The hiker has been identified as Emily Hutchinson, beloved by peers and pupils
- Queensland Police have launched an investigation into the tragic accident
A hiker who suffered serious head injuries in a Queensland national park has been identified as a female primary school teacher.
Emily Hutchinson, 31, a teacher at Weipa’s Western Cape College, in Rocky Point, was transported from Stoney Creek Falls, in the Barron Gorge National Park.
She was pronounced dead on Sunday at Cairns Base Hospital.
A tragic start to the year for friends and relatives of 31-year-old primary school teacher Emily Hutchinson who died of head injuries sustained on a hike in the Barron Gorge National Park
Earlier that morning paramedics and emergency services had been dispatched after receiving a report of a female hiker who had fallen down a waterfall.
Police hiked for an hour along the Douglas track from the Barron Gorge car park to reach the injured hiker.
The rescue helicopter made numerous sweeps over the park to aid their search.
‘She had suffered some pretty serious head injuries at the Barron Gorge,’ a Queensland Police spokeswoman said’.
‘Officers performed CPR at the scene’.
Early reports of the woman sustaining her injuries by falling down the waterfall were proven false once paramedics had communicated with her partner Corey Austin.
The spokesperson confirmed Ms Hutchinson had sustained her injuries at the bottom of the waterfall, after several boulders dislodged and hit her on the head.
The primary school teacher has been described by grieving friends as a ‘beautiful, positive, gorgeous woman’.
The Cairns Post reported that Ms Hutchinson was just three days into her new role at a Port Douglas State school and was preparing to teach Year 5 and 6.
A touching tribute to the beloved teacher was prepared by the Port Douglas State Schools P&C committee who said the young woman was already admired and respected by peers and pupils alike.
A spokesman from the Department of Education said the school communities in Port Douglas and Weipa were ‘deeply shocked and saddened’ at the tragic loss.
Students and staff from both Ms Hutchinson’s schools are being offered counselling to process the death of the ‘vibrant, loving teacher’.
Queensland Police will be responsible for preparing a report for the coroner and will be supported by Queensland Parks and Wildlife.
Queensland Police have launched an investigation into the circumstances of the accident.
The beloved teacher fell down a waterfall in the national park and sustained her injuries when several boulders dislodged and hit her on the head, later passing at Cairns Base Hospital
The Queensland Police have launched an investigation into the tragic accident, while friends, family and school communities grieve the loss of the ‘beautiful’ and ‘positive’ primary teacher
Last week the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service cautioned hikers to remain conscious of the rise in creek and stream levels due to heavy rain.
Senior Ranger Rob Miller said, ‘In many parts of the state, there has been heavy rainfall from the recent tropical cyclones Imogen and Kimi so visitors should be mindful of changed conditions’.
Earlier this month the Northern Parks and Forests Executive Director James Newman warned hikers not to swim in the parks waterways.
‘Creek and stream conditions can change rapidly, with fast flowing and rapidly rising water causing strong currents, and at these times it’s vital people stay safe and not enter the water’.