Gympie Weir stormwater drain victim: Adventure-loving mum identified as one of two women who drowned
One of two women who drowned in a weir on Boxing Day has been identified as a mother and outdoor adventurer.
Gympie resident Tanya Hehir, 46, was ‘exploring’ a stormwater drain on a path next to the Mary River near the small south-east Queensland town at around 2.30pm on Tuesday.
She and two friends, aged 40 and 46, were washed down the drain into the river when a freak storm cell hit the region.
The surviving 46-year-old woman suffered moderate injuries but was able to reach the river bank to call for help.
A massive search was launched for the two missing women in the river, with the party reaching as far as Widgee Crossing, about 5km away.
Queensland mother Tanya Hehir (above) drowned in a weir on Tuesday after a freak storm hit Gympie
Ms Hehir (above) was a grandmaster of the region’s Hash House Harriers, a non-competitive international running group, of which she had been a member since 1992.
The body of the 40-year-old woman was found by swift water rescuers at around 7.10pm on Tuesday, near the entrance to the drain.
Ms Hehir’s body was found near the weir around noon on Wednesday.
She was a grandmaster of the region’s Hash House Harriers, a non-competitive international running group, of which she had been a member since 1992.
Her passion for outdoor adventure saw her complete entire hiking, running and walking trails, including Kokoda.
More to come.