Gracetown honors memory of nine victims of the 1996 cliff collapse — ABC News Australia

In the Australian town of Gracetown, people honored the memory of nine people who died in a coastal cliff collapse at Huzza’s Beach on September 27, 1996. The tragedy occurred during an interschool surfing competition attended by students, teachers and parents. Due to bad weather, people sheltered beneath the cliffs, which suddenly collapsed, ABC News Australia reports.

Five adults and four children were killed in the collapse. The only survivor was 11-year-old Sarah Otto. Search-and-rescue participants found her beneath the debris.

Searching beneath the debris

Stephen Duggan, who arrived at the beach with his friend John after receiving reports of the collapse, said they spent hours digging through the earth with their bare hands in an effort to find people. According to him, community residents joined the search, and some used heavy machinery while risking their own safety.

Duggan was among those who found Sarah Otto. He suggested that a rock that fell and struck the girl on the head may have protected her face from a large amount of sand.

More current news is available on the UA.News Telegram channel Telegram.

Memory and surfers’ competition

Skye Thompson, whose father Lindsay died in the tragedy, was a 12-year-old tournament participant at the time of the collapse. She recalled that the children witnessed not only the collapse but also the community’s rapid mobilization, as volunteers of different ages arrived to help.

According to Thompson, on the anniversary of the tragedy she tries to be near the water — to swim, go out into the ocean or surf — in order to remember relatives and friends.

The Gracetown Grommets competition was established in honor of those killed and was held for the 30th time this year. Ian Anderson, president of the Cowaramup Bay Boardriders Association, noted that grandchildren of people who died in the collapse have already taken part in the tournament. Hundreds of surfers also entered the water to honor the memory of the tragedy’s victims.