People continue to defy no swimming signs at MacKenzie Falls in the Grampians despite a tragedy on Boxing Day.
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Harmanjot Singh Walia lost his life on December 26, the second person to drown there in 2018.
Although there are clear warning signs posted on the path to and at the falls, visitors continue to take the risk and swim in the waters – even in the following days of the Boxing Day tragedy.
Melbourne tourist Julia Gano visited the falls with her parents two days after the drowning.
“We planned to go there at the start of the week before the drowning, it put us off a bit but didn’t change our mind to go,” she said.
“I don’t think people should stop going there, but they just need to have a bit of common sense and be safe.”
Ms Gano said she had the intention to swim at the site despite knowing what had happened in the previous days, but changed her mind when she got there.
“I brought my bathers with me but didn’t know you couldn’t swim until I saw a sign,” she said.
“I feel like there wasn't enough signs. Even though I noticed it I could only see a small one, and maybe for people from other countries it is more difficult for them to understand.”
Parks Victoria South West District manager Gavan Mathieson said the signs highlight the dangers at the falls.
“Signage in place warns of the dangers of going around barriers, of the slipperiness of the rocks around the falls, submerged objects and prohibits swimming in high risk areas,” he said.
