The families of victims of the Swiss canyoning accident which killed 21 young adventurers last week joined political leaders in an emotional memorial service yesterday.
The Australian Governor-General, Sir William Deane, paid tribute to his 14 compatriots in the Swiss town of Interlaken, near where the accident took place on July 27th, apparently caused by a flash flood on the Saxet-Bach river.
"Their deaths represent probably the greatest single peace-time loss of young Australians outside our own country," he said as many wiped tears from their eyes in the congregation.
Candles were lit as the names of the victims were read out in the cathedral services, attended by President Ruth Dreifuss of Swizerland, as well as the ambassadors of Britain and South Africa to Switzerland, Mr Christopher Hulse and Ms Ruth Mompati, and New Zealand's consul-general, Mr Peter Cox.
"The young people . . . who have been killed all shared the spirit of adventure, the joy of living, the exuberance and the delight of youth," said Sir William.
"We remember that, and so many other wonderful things about them as we mourn them and grieve for young lives cut so tragically short," he added.
In addition to the 14 Australians, there were two Swiss, two Britons, two South Africans and a New Zealander. All the dead were aged between 19 and 32.
Survivors said a wall of water two metres high, swept them down the gorge towards Brienz lake at the foot of the valley.
"For us, the tragedy is somehow made worse by the fact that they died so far away from the homes, the families, the friends and the land they loved so well," said Sir William.
The search continues in Lake Brienz for the body of the last of the victims, a 24-year-old Australian, Ms Alisa Redmond. Her husband, Scott, also died in the tragedy.
Swiss police have begun a criminal investigation involving the five guides who survived the accident and the person with overall responsibility for the canyoning trip. Three other guides were among the dead.
The investigation aims to establish whether the guides were negligent in allowing the trip to go ahead in spite of heavy rain.