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OFFICIALS are calling on Grampians visitors to heed warnings after a man drowned at the popular Mackenzie falls attraction on Sunday.
Police said the Pakenham man, 28, was found dead at the scene about 9.30am on Sunday.
Witnesses reported seeing the man go below the water on Saturday afternoon. Some media reports quoted witnesses as blaming the tragedy on insufficient signs or mobile phone coverage but Parks Victoria has insisted the signs are there for people to heed.
The weekend’s tragedy was the first death to follow the tragic events of Christmas Day in 2004, when four members of the same family drowned at the falls during a family picnic.
Stawell State Emergency Service duty officer Jenny Rooke was rostered on when they received the call-out to a “possible drowning” at 5pm.
The search was suspended at dark and resumed at first light on Sunday.
She said emergency services could not make the message any clearer that MacKenzie Falls was not a swimming area.
Parks Victoria chief operating officer Simon Talbot said there were three signs at the falls, advising visitors that swimming was prohibited.
He said swimming was banned because the large volume of water that flowed through the falls made conditions at its base and under the water unpredictable.
“We’re terribly saddened by this incident at MacKenzie Falls,” he said.
“In all of the state’s national parks and reserves, it’s important for visitors to observe warning signs and the advice of park rangers.”
Mr Talbot said it was “extremely challenging” to get mobile phone reception at the base of the falls, but Telstra was exploring options for coverage in the carpark.
Grampians Tourism chief executive Marc Sleeman said people need to make reasonable decisions.
He said there were clear signs stating it was dangerous to swim at MacKenzie Falls – however, people were not heeding the warnings.
“Whether it’s speeding on roads or texting while driving – people still do it, even though they are aware of the dangers,” he said.
“We do not hide the fact that it is dangerous to swim there and people continue to disobey the rules.”
Mr Sleeman said people seemed to have an overwhelming feeling of joy when they saw Mackenzie Falls.
“We cannot stop people from jumping over barriers for photos and swimming in the falls. The only other way is to stop people from visiting the park – and that isn’t going to happen,” he said.
“People forget that we have 30 lakes in the region that are spectacular for swimming.”