Surfing town marks 30 years since fatal Gracetown cliff collapse
When the news of a coastal cliff collapse reached Stephen Duggan's family farm, he did not hesitate to act, digging through sharp limestone rubble with his bare hands for hours in the search for survivors.
On September 27, 1996, a tragic cliff collapse claimed five lives and left four others dead in Gracetown, Western Australia. The incident occurred during an inter-school surfing competition on Huzza's Beach, 271 kilometers south of Perth. Thirty years later, the community continues to remember and honor those who lost their lives and the brave individuals who risked their own lives to save others.
Stephen Duggan, one of the rescuers, found 11-year-old Sara Otto under the rubble and saved her life. The sole survivor of the tragedy, Sara Thompson, recalls the impact of the event on her life and the strong sense of community that emerged in the aftermath. The Gracetown Grommets surfing competition, created in memory of the victims, has been running for 30 years, demonstrating the enduring spirit of the community and its love for the sport of surfing.
Written by urgent.news from ABC News AU's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
