A coronial inquest into the death of Georgina Hatzidmitriadis, who died white-water rafting in Cairns in 2008, could see tourism safety standards raised in Queensland.

Counsel Assisting coroner Kevin priestly, Helen Price, told Neos Kosmos the coronial investigations into the death of Hatzidmitriadis, and four other rafting victims, would examine public health and safety standards in Queensland’s tourism industry.

“The purpose of the inquest is for the coroner to make findings and comment on public health and safety, which is bound by legislation. He’ll be asking to see the tourism companies’ manuals that they use in rafting tours,” she said.

Hatzidmitriadis, 51, was among five tourists who drowned in separate white-water rafting incidents between July 2007 and February 2009.

The other four deaths occurred on Cairns’ Tully River, while Hatzidmitriadis died on the Russell River. Foaming Fury, the tour company which Hatzidmitriadis was rafting with, is still involved with day tours on the Russell and Barron Rivers, however Neos Kosmos received no response after contacting the company.

Australian born Ms Hatzidmitriadis, who spent many years in Greece, drowned on July 30, 2008, while white-water rafting with her son and her nephew, who had only been in Australia for a short time and spoke very little English, coroner Kevin Priestly reported.

Hatzidmitriadis, who was seated in the front of the two person kayak with her nephew seated behind her, was wearing a safety helmet and safety vest at the time and after passing some of the less hazardous rapids successfully Hatzidmitriadis and her nephew were asked if they would like to swap kayaks but Hatzidmitriadis declined.

Further down the river Hatzidmitriadis and her nephew fell out of the kayak after it drifted off course and capsized. Hatzidmitriadis became entrapped below the surface of the water between rocks and was fully submerged underwater.

While Hatzidmitriadis’s son, nephew and the two river guides immediately tried to rescue her, she remained trapped underwater for some minutes before eventually being freed.

Attempts by the river guides and emergency services to resuscitate her were unsuccessful and Hatzidmitriadis was pronounced dead at Russell River on 30 July 2008, the coroner’s report found.

The coroner’s report identified major issues as the medical cause of death and surrounding circumstances, each operator’s management of the risk of legal entrapment and the adequacy of current standards and regulations relevant to that risk. Investigations are continuing.