Traumatised boyfriend of teenager who was sucked underwater at a 'cursed' swimming hole called the 'Devil's Pool' reveals how he desperately tried to save her life

  • Madison Tam, 18, disappeared while paddling at an off-limits swimming hole
  • Her frantic boyfriend risked his life to save her as she was sucked underwater
  • Sean Holden is devastated over the loss of his girlfriend, who was his 'Princess'
  • Police vowed to continue searching to give Ms Tam's helpless family answers  

By Kylie Stevens and Sahar Mourad For Daily Mail Australia

Published: | Updated:

A young man risked his life in a desperate attempt to rescue his girlfriend before she was sucked into a 'cursed' swimming hole.

The search continues for Madison Tam, 18, who vanished while swimming at the notorious Devil's Pool - an off-limits site at Babinda Boulders, south of Cairns in Far North Queensland on Monday. 

Ms Tam had been swimming between two rocks with a friend and her boyfriend Sean Holden when she was suddenly sucked into a 'chute' and pulled downstream. 

Mr Holden's mother said her son dived underneath the churning water but was unable to find his 'Princess'.

Sean Holden is shattered at the loss of his girlfriend Madison Tam, who is feared drowned

Sean Holden is shattered at the loss of his girlfriend Madison Tam, who is feared drowned

'He nearly lost his life trying to get to her,' Tracey Clarke told the Cairns Post.  

'He did everything he could to save her; he just keeps saying, ''Mum, I tried so hard''.'

Madison Tam, 18, disappeared while paddling at Devil's Pool - an off-limits swimming site at Babinda Boulders, south of Cairns

Madison Tam, 18, disappeared while paddling at Devil's Pool - an off-limits swimming site at Babinda Boulders, south of Cairns

The young couple had been together for a year, and Ms Clarke described her son's girlfriend as a 'sweet, innocent girl'.

She added her son has been left heartbroken by the tragedy. 

'The two of them had so many plans together … he was going to ask her to marry him,' Ms Clarke said. 

The swimming hole is considered haunted and 'cursed' in Aboriginal folklore and 17 people have lost their lives there in the last 60 years. 

Another six people were at the site at the time when Ms Tam vanished. 

A search operation involving Queensland Fire and Emergency Services swift water rescue team, SES volunteers and the Rescue 510 helicopter will resume on Thursday.  

Police have vowed to continue the search until they can give Ms Tam's helpless family some answers. 

Madison Tam, 18, has been remembered by her boyfriend's mother as a sweet, innocent girl

Madison Tam, 18, has been remembered by her boyfriend's mother as a sweet, innocent girl

Division 1 Cairns regional councillor Brett Moller described the incident as an 'absolute tragedy' for the family.

'My thoughts are with the family. This was a young girl with everything to live for,' he told Courier Mail. 

'This has an impact, not just on the family and friends, but I feel for the rescuers, too.

'This is quite an arduous task and if it is a sad result that will be tragic for them.' 

Cairns MP Michael Healy also offered his support to Ms Tam's grieving family and friends.

'It is a tragedy, an absolute tragedy and it would be a terrible time to be going through right now,' Mr Healy told Nine News.

'Obviously anybody swimming in any of these waterholes needs to exercise extreme caution.'

The desperate emergency search to find Madison Tam entered its fourth day on Thursday

The desperate emergency search to find Madison Tam entered its fourth day on Thursday

A search operation involving Queensland Fire and Emergency Services swift water rescue team, SES volunteers and the Rescue 510 helicopter was launched in hopes of finding the teenager (Police at the scene)

A search operation involving Queensland Fire and Emergency Services swift water rescue team, SES volunteers and the Rescue 510 helicopter was launched in hopes of finding the teenager (Police at the scene)

Police have vowed to continue the search until they find Madison Tam (pictured)

Police have vowed to continue the search until they find Madison Tam (pictured)

The rescue team continued their search on Wednesday morning at Babinda Boulders (pictured) with no luck of finding Ms Tam

The rescue team continued their search on Wednesday morning at Babinda Boulders (pictured) with no luck of finding Ms Tam

The pool was officially declared a no-go zone after Mr Bennett's death with signs telling swimmers about the dangers of the site

The pool was officially declared a no-go zone after Mr Bennett's death with signs telling swimmers about the dangers of the site

The last person to die at Babinda Boulders before Ms Tam went missing was Tasmanian man James Bennett in 2008.

His friends claimed the 23-year-old was swimming in the calm waters when he was suddenly pulled backwards by an invisible force towards the rapids at the end of the pool.

He reached for a branch, which snapped, before his head went under.

Witnesses said he struggled once or twice before he vanished.

His body resurfaced three days later.

The pool was officially declared a no-go zone after Mr Bennett's death with signs telling swimmers about the dangers of the site.

It reads: 'This creek has claimed many lives.

'Wet rocks are extremely slippery. Beware of rapidly rising water levels. Do not swim in main creek downstream of this point. This track leads to lookouts only. For your safety keep to walking track provided.'

Why Devil's Pool at Babinda Bouders is 'cursed'

According to Aboriginal folklore, a young runaway bride who fell to her death at Devil's Pool is the reason so many young men's lives - especially male tourists - have been taken at the site.

The legend begins with a young woman named Oolana who married an elder from her own Yidinji tribe. Shortly after they married she fell in love with another man named Dyga from a touring tribe.

The two lovers, Oolana and Dyga, ran away from their tribes and fled to what is now known as Devil's Pool where they were captured by the elders. 

Oolana broke free and leapt into the creek waters calling for Dyga to follow.

She hit the water crying out for Dyga which shook the water into action. The land vibrated, sending boulders flying into the creek and causing the water to plunge forward.

Legend has it that Oolana's cries for her lost lover can still be heard and her image appears in the water. 

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Boyfriend of teenager tried to save her before she got sucked underwater at 'cursed' swimming hole

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