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Up to 25 people injured in tourism boat accident at Horizontal Falls off Kimberley coast - ABC News

Seaplanes have begun to land in Broome carrying the first patients from a serious boating accident off the Kimberley coast.

A number of passengers were injured after the tour boat Falls Express ran into trouble at Horizontal Falls, a popular attraction around 100km north of Derby, just after 7am.

In a statement released this afternoon, tour operator Horizontal Falls Seaplane Adventures said it was working with authorities to help the injured passengers.

Map Horizontal Falls boat crash
The tides can reach up to 10 metres through two narrow gorges.(ABC News)

"Falls Express, guided by an experienced skipper during an early-morning tour, was involved in the incident while travelling through the falls," the statement said.

"The vessel immediately returned to the pontoon."

The company said there were 26 passengers and two crew on board the vessel but did not say how many people had been injured.

"[We] are continuing to liaise with the RFDS and emergency services to manage the incident," it stated.

The Royal Flying Doctor Service has deployed four aircraft, six doctors and six nurses in response to the incident, with two aircraft and crews already on the scene.

Horizontal Falls Van Broome Hospital
Representatives from the tour company have arrived at Broome Hospital.(ABC Kimberley: Taylor Thompson-Fuller)

Passengers began arriving in Broome just after 12.30pm and were taken by ambulance to Broome Hospital for further treatment, with local health staff putting resources in place to deal with the large number of incoming patients.

Nine patients were brought in by the tour company, with another four transferred by St John Ambulance.

"Approximately 12 further patients with more serious injuries will be transferred to Perth or Broome for further treatment this afternoon," an RFDS spokesperson said in a statement.

Aircraft from Horizontal Falls Seaplane Adventures and Mt Gibson Resources' nearby iron ore mine on Koolan Island are also assisting with the emergency response.

Representatives from the tour operator have also arrived at the hospital.

SJA Broome Hospital
Injured passengers arrive at hospital after the crash at Horizontal Falls.(ABC Kimberley: Taylor Thompson-Fuller)

Prohibition notice issued for vessel

The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) says it has dispatched two inspectors to the remote site and are expected to arrive tomorrow to begin their investigation.

In a statement, AMSA also confirmed it had issued a prohibition notice to the Falls Express.

Such notices are issued when the authority believes any activity poses an immediate threat to the health and safety of any person.

"Activity cannot be started again until the inspector is satisfied that adequate action has been taken to remove the threat," AMSA states on its website.

"Prohibition notices are remedial enforcement measures, not punitive measures.

"This means that in cases where punishment is warranted, other measures such as prosecution may also be taken."

A tourism hotspot

Horizontal Falls, an iconic tourism spot in the north, is host to regular jet boat tours through the quick-moving Kimberley tides.

The falls are a natural phenomenon where 10 metres of water surges through two narrow chasms at Talbot Bay.

Horizontal Falls in the Kimberley
The coastline is treacherous with big tides and strong currents.(Supplied: Tourism WA)

Called Garaangaddim by traditional owners, the falls have been described by David Attenborough as “one of the greatest natural wonders of the world”.

The coastline is, however, treacherous with big tides, whirlpools and strong currents.

Derby West Kimberley Shire President Geoff Haerewa said the area's isolation posed significant risks.

"Nature is quite brutal in our area," he said.

"The locals ... they have always in the back of their minds that something like this could happen with more people that come up to this area."

The marine park attracts thousands of thrillseekers annually, keen to ride a jet boat or take a plane flight over the spectacular area.

Posted , updated 

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2022-05-27 04:20:13Z
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