What started as a prank could so easily have ended in tragedy and heartbreak for that man, his family and friends - and for the emergency services personnel required to respond, should the stunt turn sour.

The dangerous and irresponsible nature of the act, and the risk of copycats, is why this masthead chose not to publish the footage on its online channels.

Some had already seen it before our story went live online this week; others questioned why we would give it publicity.

If people want to find it, they will.

What we will tell you is that the slow-motion footage shows the man standing at a cliff edge, completing a backflip but stumbling as he comes to a standing position.

The sheer drop behind him is evident.

Stawell's State Emergency Service unit slammed the behaviour and stressed that should volunteers receive a call for help to such an incident, it would not involve a rescue - it would be a body retrieval.

Parks Victoria says penalties do apply to people who cross safety barriers in the national park, and have vowed to investigate.

Visitors breaching safety barriers, and safety advice, in the national park isn't uncommon.

It was only earlier this year that Northern Grampians police issued a warning for people taking "selfish selfies" - putting themselves in dangerous positions in their quest for the "perfect" social media image.

Last summer, a man - a Taiwanese national living in Australia - drowned at MacKenzie Falls in front of horrified onlookers, including others swimming in the water. Yet despite the tragedy, and the publicity around this incident, people were seen swimming at the falls the very next day.

Emergency services respond to frequent calls for help from people in the Grampians. By sticking to marked tracks, wearing appropriate clothing and taking precautions these calls are often easily avoided.

What can be done to ensure people stay safe? Closing or restricting access won't rule out the problem. It's a huge area and a complex issue. But it shouldn't have to be.

Some might call it a "cotton wool society" - but the reality is warnings exist for a reason. Responsibility lies with the individual; but the outcomes of reckless behaviour live with others, too.

Jessica Grimble, editor