Kayaking deaths in Australian dams and rivers
Be aware of your surroundings and weather conditions
Always wear a life preserver
2014
man drowns in Cooby Damkayaker drowns in Eungella Dam, Queensland
kayaker drowns in Taylor's Creek, Victoria
2015
kayaker drowns at Thomson River Dam, Victoria2016
kayaker drowns in Somerset Dam, Queenslandkayaker drowns at Broadbeach, Queensland
kayaker believed to suffer from epilepsy drowns at Broadbeach
kayaker drowns at Lake Eildon, Victoria
2017
kayaker drowns in Currumbin Creek, Queenslandkayaker drowns after capsize in Blackwood River, Western Australia.
kayaker drowns after capsize approaching weir on Murchison River, Western Australia.
Weirs
Seqwater defines a weir as a wall that holds back water so it can be slowly released downstream and is designed to regulate waterflow.According to paddletasmania the angle of water flow and the amount of return flow amplify the danger of a weir. They stress no matter how small, all weirs should be treated with respect. For example the Forth Weir in Tasmania has a small drop but because of the amount of water flowing over it there is a strong and long return flow of water. This means once a person is caught it will be extremely difficult to break free of the return flow and will find themselves continually swept back towards the wall. If capsized a person will be dragged down and along the bottom by the force of the circulating water. On resurfacing they will once again find themselves dragged back towards the wall and under again. To date this one weir has claimed six lives.
Seqwater warn that being a good swimmer has nothing to do with survival once trapped in this constant barrage of water. Stay safe, when planning to kayak in unfamiliar waterways check google maps for weirs and check for conditions such as flooding or water releases upstream that may increase the water flow and danger.
Explanation of the mechanics of water flow that can make weirs so dangerous
2010 demonstration of what happens when caught in the hydraulic of a weir