Queensland police believe couple died by misadventure while swimming in Kearney Falls near Cairns

This article is more than 10 months old

This article is more than 10 months old

A “beautiful person” and “remarkable nurse” is how friends and former classmates have described a woman found dead alongside her partner in a rock pool in far north Queensland.

Police are trying to piece together the final movements of Simon Walker, 24, and Sherei Anderson, 32, found at a high point on the rocks at Kearneys Falls late on Monday.

They believe the couple had been trying to climb the steep and slippery rock above the swimming hole where they were spotted by a search crew in a helicopter.

Cairns Police detective acting inspector Ed Kinbacher said the couple seemingly fell to their deaths after going for an early-morning swim.

Their clothing and shoes were found nearby.

“We believe this incident is a direct consequence of misadventure rather than any third-party involvement,” he said.

The area where they were found is off limits to people.

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Walker was a member of the defence force in Townsville, and Anderson was a nurse.

“As many of you may know, the person who raised me, my sister and my best friend passed away suddenly,” her sister Chloe wrote on Facebook.

“Thank you everyone for your messages and thoughts to me and my family, it certainly hasn’t gone unnoticed in the past 24 hours.”

Friends, coworkers and former classmates have made tributes online.

“I’m so sorry, she was a beautiful person and a fantastic nurse who was very much loved by her colleagues,” Gaby Norman wrote.

“Love and condolences to you and your family at this time.”

In another post, Cheryl Lyn Delaney wrote: “Chloe, you and your sisters have my deepest sympathies, Sherei was one of the most beautiful people I have ever met, she will be missed.”

“I went to school with Sherei, just want to send you and your family love. She was a wonderful person,” Sarah Leigh Harding wrote.

Police don’t yet know when the couple died.

They are calling for anyone who may have seen the couple at the campground to come forward to help them work out when they arrived.

Anderson and Walker were travelling in a white utility and had parked near the entry to Kearneys Falls path.

Officers know they were in Cairns on Thursday, because Walker picked up Anderson from the airport when she returned from a holiday in Japan.

They were planning to camp for a few days before returning to Townsville.

The Kearneys Falls walking track and viewing platform are temporarily closed for maintenance work.