Vic: Parents of canyonying victims relieved

AAP General News (Australia)
12-12-2001
Vic: Parents of canyonying victims relieved

The mother of an Australian man killed in the 1999 Interlaken canyoning tragedy says
she is relieved by the Swiss court's decision to convict six adventure tour company staff
of manslaughter.

MARGARET FLYNN, mother of 31-year-old JOHN, says someone has to be held responsible
for the tragedy in which 14 Australians died.

Flight Lieutenant JOHN FLYNN, from the central Victorian town of Seymour, was among
the 18 tourists and three guides who died when they were washed away by a wall of water
caused by a storm.

Six managers of the now defunct Adventure World have been convicted of manslaughter
for allowing the canyoning excursion to go ahead despite the forecast storm.

The penalties range from a maximum of a five-month suspended sentence for the company's
president and fines of up to $A8,800.

AAP RTV svm/gfr/aa/rt

KEYWORD: SWISS RIVER VIC (MELBOURNE)

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