Two Brisbane teenagers have died after falling on Mt Beerwah on the Sunshine Coast, with the incident raising urgent questions about access to closed hiking trails and weather safety on Queensland's most dangerous peaks.
Jack Thatcher, 18, died three days after the fall. His companion, Lorielle Georgina, 18, was pronounced dead at the scene. The pair fell between 50 and 100 metres down the summit track on Sunday morning whilst descending with a larger group of young hikers.
The mountain had been officially closed since 9 March due to high rainfall and elevated rockfall risk. According to Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service alerts, the closure was a precautionary measure following heavy rain events, with officials warning that the risk of large rockfall above the summit route increases significantly after wet weather.
Emergency services received a Triple 0 call just before 10.30am on Sunday. Rescue helicopters and Queensland Fire and Emergency Services mountain rescue teams attended. Thatcher was winched from the mountainside and airlifted to Sunshine Coast University Hospital in critical condition, where he was placed on life support before dying three days later.
Four other hikers in the group required assistance but were able to make their way safely from the mountain. Police said light rain had made the terrain extremely slippery at the time of the fall.
Mt Beerwah, the highest peak in the Glass House Mountains National Park at 556 metres, has a documented history of serious incidents. Between 2009 and 2016, the summit route was closed due to rock instability from bushfires, with the Sunshine Coast Regional Council spending $400,000 removing dangerous rocks and improving warning signs.
Hiking guides and official Queensland Parks information consistently emphasise the mountain's hazards in wet conditions. The trachyte rock that forms the peak becomes dangerously slippery even after light rain, and hikers are repeatedly advised to avoid the climb in wet weather or with any chance of rain approaching.
The incident presents a stark reminder of the tension between public access to Queensland's iconic peaks and the genuine physical dangers they pose. Mt Beerwah's summit track is rated Grade 5, requiring very experienced bushwalkers with specialised skills including navigation and emergency first aid. Yet the mountain attracts thousands of visitors each year, many of whom may underestimate its technical demands.
A report will be prepared for the coroner.