Two teenagers in Australia have died in a double drowning 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 a release.
Officers initially responded to reports that the teenage girl had “[fallen] off a waterfall at Wappa Falls and failed to resurface” at around 2:30 p.m. local time, police added about the tragic incident in the southeast region of the state.
“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.
Authorities said the search and rescue mission started at around 2:50 p.m. local time “utilizing Queensland Fire Department and Police divers,” before the missing girl “was located unresponsive and deceased, in the water, by emergency services” 40 minutes later.
“At about 7:25 p.m. the missing boy was located unresponsive and deceased, in the water,” by police divers, the release stated.
“Police will prepare reports for the coroner for both the girl and the boy,” the release said, confirming that Wappa Falls remains closed amid the ongoing investigation.
The teenagers were identified as Honor Ward and her friend Beau Liddell, per Sky News Australia, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) and 9 News.
Beau’s father, Adam Liddell, said “the whole family is just a mess” following his son’s death, per ABC.
“That’s the type of person he was,” he said of his son trying to save his friend, according to the publication, adding, “He never thought of himself first.”
Honor’s friend, Phoebe Loynd-Andersson, said “She was just always there for everybody, no matter what she was going through herself,” per the outlet.
“[She] just wanted to be there for other people and she would encourage people,” she added.
The teenagers were both former students at the Sunshine Beach State High School, ABC reported.
The outlet stated at least five people had died at the same swimming spot since 2007.
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“There could be a lot more done than a couple of little signs that say ‘dangerous water,’ ” Mr. Liddell told the publication, claiming more should be done to prevent further deaths at the waterfall.
According to Sky News Australia, there had been heavy rainfall in the area on Saturday.
A sign at Wappa Falls warned visitors of “heavy currents, deep water and submerged boulders,” and said that “conditions here are unpredictable,” per the outlet.
Queensland Police, Sunshine Beach State High School and Sunshine Coast Council didn’t immediately respond when contacted by PEOPLE.
A GoFundMe set up to help Beau’s family with the costs of his funeral has so far gathered around $1,300.
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