Heartbreaking last words boy, 16, spoke to his mother before her tragic death on a school trip
Ahmed Alfarhan, 16, drowns after falling into water at Browns Beach in Innes National Park, South Australia, March 2021
A 16-year-old boy’s heartbreaking final words to his mother before he died on a school trip have been revealed.
In March 2021, 16-year-old Ahmed Alfarhan drowned after falling into the water at Browns Beach in Innes National Park, South Australia.
Ahmed was one of three boys who drowned while visiting the park with Pinnacle College.
One of the three boys slips off a moss-covered rock and falls into the sea, while the other two either slip too much or jump in to save their classmate.
SA Employment Tribunal deputy president Judge Miles Crowley said it was unclear whether Ahmed slipped to rescue his friend or jumped into the water.
However, police said at the time of the tragedy that he was a hero and was trying to save his partner.
When his two friends returned to shore, Ahmad’s body washed away and was not recovered until the next day.
The head of the tribunal who kissed his mother goodbye before Ahmed left for the trip, said: ‘I’ll see you in two days, don’t miss me.’
The accident happened while the students were on a trip to Innes National Park (pictured) in South Australia
Her mother said in a victim impact statement: ‘Remembering that day breaks my heart.’
SA Employment Tribunal deputy president Judge Miles Crowley said there could easily have been three deaths that day and the boy who made it out of the water was lucky to survive.
The group of seven students and two teachers had recently reached the park when the tragic incident occurred while they were fishing from some rocks.
The permission slip provided by the parents did not include rock fishing, the tribunal heard.
None of the students were wearing life jackets.
Pinnacle School was fined $420,000 by the South Australian Employment Tribunal on July 10 for the shocking incident.
Pinnacle College was found guilty of violating health and safety laws and fined $420,000.
Judge Crawley said the school had ‘provided a public and unreserved apology to Ahmad’s family’.
Tributes have been paid to Ahmed at the college and a work, health and safety officer has been appointed at the school.
Safework SA executive director Glenn Farrell said Ahmed’s death was a tragic and unnecessary loss of life.