buckland, Tasmania – January 13, 2026 23:55:00
A 31-year-old French national died Tuesday after falling 20 metres from a cliff in Tasmania’s Sand River Conservation Area, marking the second such incident at the reserve in five years.
- A 31-year-old man from Victoria fell while rock climbing at Sand River on Tuesday.
- Emergency services transported the man to Royal Hobart Hospital, where he later died.
- This is the second cliff fall death at the Sand river Conservation Area since 2021.
A 31-year-old man, a French national residing in Victoria, died after a fall while rock climbing in Tasmania’s Sand River Conservation area on Tuesday, police said.
Emergency services were called to the scene near Buckland at approximately 1:20 p.m. local time. the man fell 20 metres from a cliff face while climbing with a friend, according to authorities.
He was flown by rescue helicopter to Royal Hobart Hospital in critical condition, but died shortly after arrival, police confirmed.
“Police are preparing a report for the coroner,” authorities stated. “Our thoughts are with the man’s family.”
Second Incident in Five Years
This incident marks the second death at the Sand river Conservation Area due to a cliff fall in the past five years. In 2021, an 11-year-old girl from Victoria died after falling more than 10 metres from a cliff while on a walking and rock-climbing expedition with her siblings, (ABC News: Luke Bowden).
At the time,police said the girl lost her footing while walking along the edge of the cliff.
Time.news based this report in part on reporting by ABC News and added self-reliant analysis and context.
Expanded News Report:
A 31-year-old French national residing in Victoria died Tuesday after a 20-meter fall while rock climbing in Tasmania’s Sand River Conservation Area. The incident, which occurred near Buckland, marks the second fatality at the reserve in five years, raising concerns about safety at the popular climbing destination.
The man was climbing with a friend when he fell from a cliff face at approximately 1:20 p.m. local time. Emergency services responded swiftly, transporting the critically injured climber by rescue helicopter to Royal Hobart Hospital. Despite medical efforts, he was pronounced dead shortly after arrival. Police are currently preparing a report for the coroner to investigate the circumstances surrounding the death. Authorities have expressed their condolences to the man’s family.
This tragedy echoes a similar incident in 2021, when an 11-year-old girl from Victoria died after falling more than 10 meters from a cliff while on a family expedition. Police at the time persistent the girl lost her footing while walking near the cliff edge. the recurrence of these incidents has prompted renewed scrutiny of safety measures and awareness campaigns for visitors to the Sand River Conservation area.The inquiry will determine if any safety protocols were breached or if additional precautions are needed to prevent future tragedies.
