By SHAUNA ANDERSON
A life was taken over the weekend.
Ended too soon in a tragic car accident on Fraser Island.
22-year old British backpacker Jade Fox, from Maidstone, Kent in the UK had been travelling through Australia for three months.
It was her gap year. A dream trip. Filled with friends and laughter, with travels, experiences and memories. She was just at the beginning of her life.
But sadly Jade Fox did not survive Friday afternoon’s car accident.
It is believed that the four-wheel drive she was in overturned when it attempted to overtake another vehicle on a gravel road close to the island’s Hook Point ferry terminal.
The Courier Mail reports that she was not wearing a seatbelt and hit her head when the accident happened.
The vehicle that Jade was in was part of a convoy of three 4WDs on a tour operated by the Rainbow Beach Adventure Company.
It was the RACQ Careflight’s fourth trip to Fraser Island in a month.
According to The Courier Mail it is the first death on Fraser Island since regulations were brought in making it mandatory for backpackers to travel with tag-along tours.
Convoys of about three or four cars driven by backpackers must follow a lead car operated by an experienced tour guide.
Fraser Island first aid respondent David Anderson told News Limited that he had attempted to resuscitate her but it was too late.
Top Comments
Yes it's sad that a pretty, young girl died, but she took the risk of not wearing a seatbelt and she paid the ultimate price. I hope charges are laid against the driver, I think a fair amount of skylarking was taking place for her to be overtaking while in a convoy like that. I feel sorry for the company who will pay dearly for the stupid actions of two young people.
It's such sad news, but part of me is more saddened by the fact that she wasn't wearing a seat belt. Didn't anyone learn anything from Diana's death.
Diana? I don't think that was what people learnt from Diana's death - more from the hundreds of other, ordinary people who are killed in car accidents whilst not wearing seatbelts. Especially on a bumpy, uneven, 4WD tour.
Either way, Diana's death was the most publicised death due to not wearing a seat belt.
If you say so.
I thought the biggest issue that raised was paparazzi harassment.
I agree with the first part of your statement. Wearing a seat belt is an absolute no brainer. I'm very sorry that she died, but we have seatbelt laws for a reason.