A TOURIST who died in a flooded creek in North Queensland tried desperately to hold onto a rock before being washed away.

Police will this morning resume an operation to recover the body of the woman who died in flood waters at Josephine Falls near Innisfail yesterday.

media_camera Police are warning both tourists and locals to take care while swimming in creeks and streams this wet season. Conditions can change quickly and submerged and slippery rocks, such as those found at Josephine Falls, can prove deadly. Picture: BRENDAN RADKE.

Details of her desperate fight for survival have been released by police.

When emergency services arrived she was seen treading in the middle of the river holding on to a large rock surrounded by rushing water.

Police believe the woman had slid down a rock face and was washed in to the middle of the river.

media_camera The popular backpacker spot in Far north Queensland, Josephine Falls. Picture: Gary Ramage

The woman moved from her position and was washed down stream.

A search was started straight away and her body was located around an hour later.

“Due to deteriorating weather conditions, it was not possible to recovery her last night and police remained at the scene overnight,” a Queensland Police Service spokesman said.

media_camera Police are warning both tourists and locals to take care while swimming in creeks and streams this wet season. Michael Blanchford keeps a close eye on his 13 year old son Harvey at Josephine Falls. Picture: BRENDAN RADKE. media_camera Police are warning both tourists and locals to take care while swimming in creeks and streams this wet season. Conditions can change quickly and submerged and slippery rocks can prove deadly. Andrew Huxham slides down Josephine Falls on his feet. Picture: BRENDAN RADKE.

Sergeant Duane Amos said Queensland Fire and Emergency Services crews were deployed to the scene and a swift water rescue operation was commenced.

“Unfortunately that female was swept off the rocks,” he said.

A report will be prepared for the Coroner.

A woman has drowned after she became trapped in floodwaters at Josephine Falls, south of Cairns. https://t.co/zWPt3n9IGl #7News pic.twitter.com/MCtF3Dtggc — 7 News Cairns (@7NewsCairns) January 23, 2018

Josephine Falls is in the Wooroonooran National Park at the foot of Mt Bartle Frere.

The area has a long history of tragic deaths.

Horrific drownings shock Australian waters Horrific drownings shock Australian waters

An inquest in to the death of James Andrew Bennett delivered in 2010 showed there had been 17 deaths in that area.

Mr Bennett, 23, died on November 30, 2008 at the Boulders Reserve near Babinda due to drowning.

Originally published as Tourist’s tragic death in flooded waters