Boy and Girl, 17, Die in Double Drowning at Waterfall After He Jumps in to Save Her: 'Never Thought of Himself'

Mar. 15, 2025

Beau Liddell.Photo:GoFundMe

GoFundMe

Two teenagers in Australia died in a double drowning this week after one jumped into the water to try and save the other, according to authorities.

On Sunday, Jan. 19, the girl and boy, both 17, were “located deceased at a waterfall in Yandina on the Sunshine Coast” following a search and rescue operation, Queensland Police said in astatement.

Officers initially responded to reports that the teenage girl had “[fallen] off a waterfall at Wappa Falls and failed to resurface” around 2:30 p.m. local time, police said.

“An acquaintance of the girl, a 17-year-old boy jumped into the water to assist locating the girl but has also failed to resurface,” the statement continued.

Wappa Falls on the sunshine coast of Australia.Douglas Cliff/Getty

Douglas Cliff/Getty

“Police will prepare reports for the coroner for both the girl and the boy,” officials said in their statement, adding that Wappa Falls remains temporarily closed amid the ongoing investigation.

The teenagers were identified as Honor Ward and her friend Beau Liddell, according toSky News Australia, theAustralian Broadcasting Corporation(ABC) and9 News.

Beau’s father, Adam Liddell, said “the whole family is just a mess” following his son’s death, ABC reported.

“That’s the type of person he was,” he said of his son trying to save his friend, according to the outlet, adding, “He never thought of himself first.”

Honor’s friend Phoebe Loynd-Andersson remembered her as “just always there for everybody, no matter what she was going through herself,” ABC reported.

“[She] just wanted to be there for other people and she would encourage people,” Loynd-Andersson added.

The teens were both former students at the Sunshine Beach State High School, according to ABC.

The outlet reported that at least five people have died at the same swimming spot since 2007.

“There could be a lot more done than a couple of little signs that say ‘dangerous water,’ " Beau’s dad said.

According to Sky News Australia, there had been heavy rainfall in the area the day before the drownings.

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

There’s a warning at Wappa Falls of “heavy currents, deep water and submerged boulders,” and said that “conditions here are unpredictable,” per the outlet.

AGoFundMeset up to help Beau’s family with the costs of his funeral has so far gathered around $1,300.

source: people.com