A young father who fell to his death at a popular hiking spot while trying to collect litter has been remembered by friends and family.
Stephen Paul Queen, 34, died after falling from a cliff at Morialta Conservation Park, in Adelaide’s north-east about 12.30pm on Saturday.
His sister Katherine Queen recalled her brother’s final, selfless act in a statement posted to social media on Sunday.
‘As an avid environmentalist who cares for nature, he went to pick up a piece of litter that was just off the path, and in a freak accident, fell off a cliff,’ Ms Queen said.
‘He passed away apparently instantly,’ she added.
She said her brother died doing ‘something he loved dearly – hiking Morialta with a friend’.
Other hikers were first alerted to the incident after the woman Mr Queen had been hiking with ran up to them while calling for help.
‘She said she just met with this man in class and she just for the first time went out with him and this thing happened,’ hiker Aliman Tazudin told Nine News.
Stephen Paul Queen (pictured) died after a freak hiking accident on Saturday afternoon
The park was closed to the public as emergency crews conducted a retrieval operation
‘She said her friend doesn’t like littering and because he saw a bottle over the fence so he tried to go over the fence and right after that he fell down.’
Police and emergency crews rushed to the scene on Saturday afternoon, following reports someone had fallen near Deep View Lookout.
Despite their best efforts, the 34-year-old died at the scene.
‘Police are investigating the circumstances of death. At this stage it is not believed to be suspicious,’ South Australia police said on Saturday evening.
Ms Queen wrote that her brother left behind a ‘beautiful eight-year-old girl who he loves immensely and a family who is incredibly devastated by this freak accident’.
Tributes from friends and family poured in across social media on Sunday, farewelling Mr Queen, who they described as a good natured, family man.
‘He had a beautiful nature and was the kindest soul to everyone he ever met,’ an old friend wrote.
‘Queenie was one of those big hearted people who wanted nothing more than to spend time with those he loved and to enjoy life to its fullest.’
Mr Queen was reportedly attempting to collect a piece of litter when he plunged to his death
Emergency crews were unable to save him after rushing to the scene on Saturday afternoon
She wrote Mr Queen’s passions included caring for animals, the environment, music, coffee making, volunteering and raising his daughter.
‘This whole thing is heartbreaking in every sense of the word as his passing was a freak accident, needless and tragic.
‘He touched the lives of so many people and left memories that will never be forgotten.
‘I just thought you were going to be around forever with us.’
Another friend described him as a ‘unique, one-of-a kind guy’ who ‘will be missed’.
Morialta Conservation Park was closed to the public for several hours while emergency crews conducted a challenging recovery operation.
It comes three years after father Robert Bell, 48, died after falling from a remote clifftop trail within the same park.
That incident prompted calls for a safety review into the park, including the condition of the track, signage and other risk factors.
Police will prepare a report for the coroner.
