Rest in peace Petr — David Taylor - Master Jeweller

6th February 2023

During my years in Barron Gorge there are two kayakers that I have come to know more than the others . One is Steve Vlasits who moved away to Tasmania a couple of years ago and the other Petr Hanzak.

They often paddled together as they are in the video above of a raging Barron Gorge at the start of 2021. Petr is in the yellow kayak with a black helmet and Steve in the yellow kayak with a white helmet.

Petr was a religious paddler and I had been recently wondering where he was as I had not seen him on Barron River for what seemed weeks. In fact most of the regular kayakers were missing.

The location of the accident

Then last Friday I got a call from Steve Vlasits to let me know that sadly Petr passed away on the 22nd of January from injuries he suffered whilst kayaking in Behana Gorge along Behana Creek. The water was running in Behana and many of the kayakers were over there paddling.

The location of Petr’s accident, Behana Creek, April 2023.

Behana Gorge is another place I visit often. Petr had his accident at the spot above. I know it well and wrote about on this blog back in 2021. It was during a capsize that Petr collided with a submerged tree and suffered his injuries.

Petr was kayaking down this side creek back to the main flow of water that you can see to the left in this photo. Just before that side creek meets the main one it forks around those trees and rocks in the centre.

Back in 2021 on my visit to this location I took photos of both sides of the fork. You can see how the water was even lower at the time.

Driftwood high up int he trees to the side of Petr’s spot.

My tripod extends to well over 6 foot. You can see that there is driftwood higher than that lodged in the trees to the side of Petr’s spot.

I am never in Behana when the kayakers are. They go in when the water is much higher and not safe for me to venture deep into and across the creeks.

My connection to Petr

Petr heading into the Rooster’s Tail, Barron Gorge, February 2022.

I spoke to Petr often on the river and even more frequently via email. Any photos I took of kayakers I would email to him and he would pass it on to the group. They are a very tight community and he truly was the “Father figure” of white water rafting in the area, he knew everyone. Always there to teach, support or provide the best of company.

Photo Petr emailed me of the climb from Cairns to Kuranda up Barron Gorge, September 2022.

Petr like me had a love of all things nature and in the dry season would sometimes make the hike all the way up Barron Gorge from Cairns to his home in Kuranda. A trip we planned to do together one day. My fault it never happened :(

Petr loved all things nature

At his home in Kuranda he was surrounded by nature as you can see in this video he made in November 2022.

Petr and the Rooster’s tail

One of my last photos of Petr on Barron River, November 2022.

I delete most photos I take of the kayakers once I pass them on but I still have these photos of Petr from a run he made down Barron Gorge in early November 2022.

It was taken at the Rooster’s Tail which at times I am guessing is one of the most challenging sections of the run down Barron Gorge from the bridge. Petr loved the Rooster’s Tail.

Nearly every afternoon just before sunset a Little Pied Cormorant flies down Barron Gorge just over the water towards the sea. From now on that bird will remind me of Petr. Rest in peace my friend.