Two Teenagers Die in Tragic Drowning Incident at Wappa Falls

A 17-year-old boy and girl lost their lives after the boy attempted to rescue the girl from dangerous waters at a Sunshine Coast waterfall.

The incident occurred on Sunday, January 19, 2025, at Wappa Falls, a known hazardous swimming spot on Queensland's Sunshine Coast.
Honor Ward, 17, fell into the waterfall's rapids and was swept downstream after heavy rainfall increased water flow and turbulence.
Beau Liddell, 17, jumped in to save Honor but failed to resurface; both teens were later found deceased after an extensive search and rescue operation.
The deaths mark at least the fifth fatality at Wappa Falls since 2007, prompting calls from Beau's father and others for stricter safety measures or closure of the site.
Local authorities are investigating the incident and preparing reports for the coroner, while the community mourns the loss of two vibrant young lives.