Anthony Yates
A man lovingly described by his family as a “passionate environmentalist” has died after a fall at a national park in Australia. Police are not treating the incident as suspicious.
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According to a news release by the South Australia Police, authorities say the incident occurred at the Morialta Falls conservation park on August 23 at around 12:30 PM. Police and emergency services responded to reports that a man had fallen. Authorities say that despite the emergency response, they declared a 34-year-old from Tranmere dead at the scene. “Police are investigating the circumstances of death. At this stage, it is not believed to be suspicious,” the statement concludes.
9News revealed the man’s identity as Stephen Queen. The outlet explains that the 34-year-old father is remembered as a “passionate environmentalist.” He reportedly fell down a steep gorge at a hiking lookout in the park.
Queen Was Reportedly Picking Up Litter In The Park Before He Died
Stephen’s sister, Katherine Queen, told 9News, “No one can believe it. He was so young, so full of energy. Dad rang me and he said the police were at the house and there had been a terrible accident.”
The outlet explains that it’s believed Stephen climbed over a barrier near Deep View Lookout to retrieve a plastic bottle. Once over the barrier, he lost his footing and fell. Katherine reportedly told 9News, “He was passionate about climate, he was passionate about our society, and of course, he would be trying to get litter off the ground.”
A report by 7News Adelaide explains that Stephen visited Morialta Falls conservation park every week. In an interview with the outlet, his sister explained that everything he did was for his 8-year-old daughter.
Earlier this month, a popular US National park urged visitors not to feed the bears. The warning came after rangers documented three separate incidents where people got too close to the animals. Great Smoky Mountains National Park also noted that feeding bears is illegal and can carry fines or even prison time.
The National Park Service issued a warning, stating that bears learn quickly. “Feeding a bear even once can result in that bear becoming conditioned to human food, losing its natural fear of humans,” officials said.
