Inspector Eddiehausen told the Townsville Bulletin the girl's friends had desperately tried to save her life.



"The friends were trying to keep her above the water but the water started coming down the mountain very quickly,” he said.



‘‘There were quite a few people around the area trying to dislodge her foot but the water that comes off that creek was just flowing too swiftly.



"It appears she was trying to do the right thing and get out of the water but submerged rocks can be a very dangerous thing.”

A resident who lives near the swimming hole was told by witnesses that conditions at the site deteriorated very quickly.

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‘‘It was a very, very calm day,’’ she said. ‘‘But in no time at all the [the water] just came up. All of a sudden the creek was really raging ... and the causeway was flooded.



‘‘We just don’t get rain like that here very often. It took everyone by surprise.’’



She said up to 100 millimetres of rain fell in the area within two hours.



The woman said she understood the 17-year-old girl became stranded in the middle of the creek as she tried to return to the safety of the bank as the waters started to rise.



‘‘I heard that someone came running down here for some rope because they were having trouble getting to her.



‘‘There were a lot of people stranded up there because the causeway was flooded. And they were all trying to help her.’’



She said her friends were unable to raise the alarm immediately because there is no mobile phone reception in the national park.



‘‘There is a public phone up there, but I don’t think they knew where it was,’’ she said.



By the time Queensland Fire and Rescue specialist swift water crews were able to reach the swollen creek they were unable to find the teenager in the fading light.



Her body was recovered about 9am on Monday after the floodwaters had subsided.



Inspector Eddiehausen said the girl’s tragic death had undoubtedly traumatised her friends.



"For the family and friends it must be a dreadful experience and something they'll never forget. You can only imagine what they must be going through now,’’ he said.

Ms Shepherd’s friends have expressed their disbelief at the tragic death of the former Pimlico State High School student on the social networking site Facebook.



‘‘This wasn't a dream and I realise again that you were taken from us,’’ one friend wrote. ‘‘You sure made me and many of us smile no matter what. You were always ‘buzzing’ even without a coke.’’



Another friend wrote: ‘‘This is absolutely devastating, such a young life taken way too early.’’



Friends have also shared their memories of ice-skating and ‘‘cruising’’ in cars around Townsville with Ms Shepherd.



‘‘She was an amazing girl no one will replace her. She is dearly missed by everyone and had such a huge impact on everyone’s life,’’ another friend wrote.