One of the victims who tragically drowned in a weir on Boxing Day has been identified as Tanya Hehir, a devoted mother and passionate outdoor adventurer from Gympie.

Tanya, aged 46, was exploring a stormwater drain on a trail adjacent to the Mary River in the small town of Gympie in southeast Queensland. The incident occurred at approximately 2:30 pm on Tuesday.

Unfortunately, Tanya, along with two friends aged 40 and 46, were swept away by the rushing water when a sudden and unexpected storm hit the region.

While one of the women, aged 46, managed to reach the riverbank and call for help despite sustaining moderate injuries, Tanya and the other woman were carried further downstream.

A massive search operation was immediately launched to locate the two missing women. The search party extended as far as Widgee Crossing, approximately 5km away from the initial incident site.

Tragically, the body of the 40-year-old woman was discovered by swift water rescue workers near the entrance of the stormwater drain at around 7:10 pm on Tuesday.

Tanya Hehir’s body was found near the weir around midday on Wednesday, bringing a devastating end to the search efforts.

Our thoughts and condolences go out to the families and loved ones affected by this heartbreaking tragedy.