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Grief for hero teen who died trying to save friend

Beau Liddell died trying to save a friend who had fallen from a waterfall.

Beau Liddell died trying to save a friend who had fallen from a waterfall. Photos: Nine screengrab/TikTok

A teenager who died trying to save a friend in a Queensland waterfall is being remembered as caring and kind.

Beau Liddell has been named as the 17-year-old boy who died after diving into the waterfall at Wappa Falls, near Yandina on the Sunshine Coast on Sunday afternoon, to save a girl who had also fallen.

Both teens went missing, sparking a search and rescue.

The girl’s body was found about 3.30pm. Divers recovered Liddell’s body several hours later.

On social media on Monday, his older sister Skye, shared a heartbreaking tribute.

“I miss you so badly, baby brother,” she said.

“You had the most caring and kind heart. I am so proud of you.

“I love you to the moon and back, forever and always.”

A friend of the teenager’s said words couldn’t describe how much he would be missed.

“Feels like just yesterday we were going to the BP buying Vanilla Cokes and leaving the change on the electrical box, life throws curveballs, but I never thought that this would be one,” the friend wrote.

“We grew together over the years and both changed so much, I’m shattered, what I would do to be able to talk to you for a last time.

“We hold so many memories together, and I’m glad we were able to make so many together.

“Going to miss you so much, will spend every second thinking about you, you left the world a hero, and you will never be forgotten, I love you my brother, fly high.”

The waterfall remained closed on Monday as the police investigation continued. Police will prepare reports for the coroner regarding both teenagers.

Nicklin MP Marty Hunt offered his condolences to the families of the two teenagers as the community grieved the loss of the young lives.

“Our hearts go out to the families of the two individuals who tragically lost their lives at the waterfall,” he said.

“Two families are enduring unimaginable pain right now and on behalf of the community I offer our deepest condolences during this time.”

Wappa Falls is a popular local swimming spot and tourism destination. However, it can be dangerous after heavy rain.

Spills from the upstream Wappa Dam can make it a powerful and turbulent waterfall.

Wappa Dam is 101.8 per cent full, according to Seqwater.

Seqwater warned on Sunday morning that outflows from Wappa Dam had increased after heavy Saturday rainfall.

Nearby Cooloolabin Dam received 49 millimetres of rain in the 24 hours to 9am on Sunday.

“Avoid potential hazards downstream of the dam such as fast flowing or deep water near waterways and floodplains,” Seqwater said.

“These hazards potentially threaten the safety of you and your property.”

Wappa Falls has been the site of several tragedies over the years with a father drowning in 2022 trying to save his son who had fallen into the water.

More than 30 people have drowned across Australia this summer.

Most recently, Balonne Shire Councillor’s son Ashley Jay Hicks was found dead after he dived into Beardmore Dam near St George, in southern Queensland, and failed to resurface last week.

A couple from Perth’s Bangladeshi community died after reportedly attempting to rescue their two children from a rip in December.

A 21-year-old man in Canberra drowned after he failed to resurface while swimming with family and friends at Pine Island in the Murrumbidgee River

In far north Queensland, a 55-year-old Brisbane man died after falling off Clamshell Falls near Cairns just weeks after the body of an international tourist was found when he failed to resurface at Babinda Falls.

-with AAP

Topics: Queensland
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