The American tourist who plunged to his death from a popular whale-watching clifftop has been named as Gavin Paul Zimmerman.
A missionary with the Church of Latter Day Saints, the 19-year-old was with a group of friends at Cape Solander, south of Sydney, when he fell into the ocean.
Mr Zimmerman’s parents released a statement about the death of their son, who had been working at the church’s Sydney mission since last year.
The American tourist who plunged to his death from a popular whale-watching clifftop has been named as Gavin Paul Zimmerman (pictured)
A missionary with the Church of Latter Day Saints, the 19-year-old was with a group of friends at Cape Solander, south of Sydney, when he fell into the ocean
‘It is with deep sorrow and heavy hearts that we share the news of our son’s passing from this earth to return home to his Heavenly Father,’ Raymond and Jeanette Zimmerman said, Nine News reported.
‘He was a great example to us all, and he loved his mission very much. He enjoyed teaching people and sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ.
‘Gavin was a bright light in our lives.’
Mr Zimmerman was thought to be taking a selfie when he lost his balance and plunged ten metres into the sea below at 3.30pm local time on Monday.
His shell-shocked friends were unable to reach where he had landed and made desperate phone calls to police.
A lifesaver helicopter arrived in seven minutes and crews put green dye in the water to trace the current to find the Mormon missionary.
A lifesaver helicopter arrived in seven minutes and crews put green dye in the water to trace the current to find the Mormon missionary
An American tourist has fallen to his death from a popular whale-watching clifftop in Australia. Pictured: Emergency crews at the scene today
They found him unconscious just below the surface after 30 minutes in the water.
Lifeguards on jet-skis pulled him from the waves and put him in a police boat from where he was winched to dry land – but paramedics could not revive him with CPR and he was pronounced dead at the scene.
It is thought the group of teenagers walked down from an official viewing platform to a slippery, rocky ledge nearer the water.
The man was taking a selfie when he slipped and one of his friends caught the fall on video, The Daily Telegraph reported.
‘He was here with a group of friends to go whale watching. They’ve made their way down onto the rock platform at this stage it appears to be misadventure where he’s slipped and fallen over the edge,’ New South Wales Police Chief Inspector Chris Hill said.
The National Parks NSW website describes the area as ‘an unbeatable lookout during whale watching season’. Pictured: An Instagram image of the cliffs
He added: ‘If you are attending this location, those rocks are very slippery so for your safety, stay up on the whale watching platform and please don’t go down on the rocks.’
In early June another man fell to his death while taking photos in the same area, which is popular for watching migrating whales.
The cliffs, next to Kamay Botany Bay National Park, are among the best places see humpbacks migrate north to warmer Queensland in the winter.
The National Parks NSW website describes the area as ‘an unbeatable lookout during whale watching season’.
‘If you’re lucky you won’t even need to look far — whales have been known to swim as close as 200m from the coast,’ the site reads.
In early June another man fell to his death while taking photos in the same area, which is popular for watching migrating wales. Pictured: A sign at the lookout