The final photo taken of Annika Ferry shows her standing on a World Conflict II bunker, silhouetted in opposition to an orange and blue destroy of day over the ocean.
The 21-yr-aged Sydney lady had hiked to Blue Fish Level – a scenic coastal location overlooking Manly – alongside with her greatest buddy Bec Bennett on the morning of June 24, 2020.
Ethical moments later, she would be pointless.
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Annika wished to use Bec, who is on the Australian Olympic team, to the location to cheer her up after the Tokyo Video games had been cancelled due to the the COVID pandemic.
The duo had a boogie in the automobile on the vogue earlier than strolling thru the rugged terrain down to the bunker. They had planned to examine the destroy of day and bear breakfast there.
It used to be a location the pair had been to repeatedly earlier than – they continually sat in the derelict World Conflict II bunker that lost sight of the harbour.
One of the most final photos taken of Annika Ferry. Credit ranking: SuppliedAs the solar came up, segment of the roof of the bunker collapsed.
Authorities acknowledged Annika fell and hit her head, inflicting catastrophic accidents.
However family reveal they had been told she used to be overwhelmed by the weight of the collapsed concrete and died at the scene. 7NEWS.com.au has requested a reproduction of coronial findings into her loss of life.
“(Annika and Bec) had been entirely ready. They weren’t being reckless, “ Bennett’s mum Jenny acknowledged.
“(Annika) thought she used to be taking Bec to a sexy location for solace.”
Annika and Bec. Credit ranking: SuppliedAnnika and her brothers. Credit ranking: SuppliedAt the time, police called her loss of life a “unhappy accident.” However a months-long 7NEWS.com.au investigation has chanced on that authorities had been warned the bunker used to be unsafe a long time earlier than it collapsed – and there’s no pronounce of any repairs.
Consultants reveal her loss of life speaks to a bigger direct – and warn that more desires to be achieved to halt the handfuls of bunkers all the plan thru the country from turning into loss of life traps.
And Jenny says bunkers are a “ticking time bomb.”
“It may perchance perchance perchance perchance perchance perchance silent never bear happened. It didn’t must happen if they aged our taxes for the sharp reasons.”
A ‘derelict’ and ‘unsafe’ bunkerAnnika’s older brother Anton used to be on his manner to a alternate assembly when he bought a name from his dad that fateful morning.
“It’s no longer easy to present the feeling nonetheless most regularly … you sharp beget of shut down, every little thing to your existence turns a puny bit surreal. You don’t allege it’s correct. You don’t think it’s staunch,” acknowledged Anton, who used to be the predominant to expose Annika the Blue Fish Level bunker two years earlier than she died.
“You birth thinking of the final moments you talked to her. No longer one alarm you’ve ever had issues … you may perchance perchance perchance perchance perchance exchange each factor to your existence sharp to bear her relief.”
Annika used to be neat, droll, adventurous and form. She studied renewable energy hoping to abet beget the area the next put and devoted her young existence to helping others – from constructing natural world enclosures in Ecuador to helping beget faculties and orphanages in Africa and India.
“We had been so indignant to stare what she would bear achieved attributable to she used to be on the direction to already doing so significant sharp,” Anton acknowledged.
Annika and Anton. Credit ranking: SuppliedA memorial used to be held for Annika at Balgowlah Heights. Credit ranking: Supplied “Everyone loved her. There’s nothing corrupt I could perchance perchance perchance perchance reveal about her, which is glum attributable to she used to be the superb of us and he or she had to maneuver.”
The NSW Nationwide Parks and Wildlife Carrier (NPWS) acknowledged it had “objective no longer too long ago undertaken the identification, prioritisation, and recording of all 175 diagnosed militia constructions within the Sydney residence.”
However paperwork bought by 7NEWS.com.au thru a freedom of recordsdata search recordsdata from present that the Blue Fish Level bunker that collapsed and killed Annika Ferry used to be labelled “derelict” and “unsafe” in 1991 – almost three a long time earlier than the tragedy, and years earlier than Annika used to be even born.
There’s no reference in the paperwork released to 7NEWS.com.au to any repair work on the Blue Fish Level bunker following that 1991 pronounce until Annika’s loss of life. 7NEWS.com.au asked NSW’s Division of Planning and Ambiance whether any repair work had been achieved following that pronounce, nonetheless the department offered no slight print of any repairs.
In a publicly accessible 2007 pronounce commissioned by NSW Nationwide Parks and Wildlife Carrier, heritage architect Paul Davies chanced on that the fortifications at North Head sites – the put the Blue Fish Level bunker is found – had been in “downhearted situation.”
Annika and her family. Credit ranking: SuppliedAnnika used to be a lover of animals and the environment. Credit ranking: Supplied“The absolute most sensible perceived threat is that of doable give plan of the ruins because of visitation,” Davies wrote of the health and safety dangers associated with the North Head sites.
Davies suggested the sites be monitored, and that the department may perchance perchance perchance perchance silent “allege restricting fetch correct of entry to to sites as they deteriorate”.
He suggested that the sites must be allowed to tumble into ruin – despite the reality that work must be undertaken to lead particular of threat to guests.
Again, there is no reference in the paperwork released to 7NEWS.com.au to any repair work on the Blue Fish Level bunker following that 2007 pronounce.
‘They had been then most regularly sharp left to decay’Bunkers fancy these the put Annika died are dotted alongside Australia’s flee – crumbling remnants of what as soon as had been key defence fortifications in a different period.
Sooner than Annika’s loss of life in 2020, there had been no deaths or accidents recorded at any of the disused militia constructions spherical Sydney, a Nationwide Parks and Wildlife Carrier spokesperson told 7NEWS.com.au.
However experts warn that different accidents may perchance perchance perchance perchance silent happen.
In the course of World Conflict II, bunkers had been erected alongside Australia’s flee to protect in opposition to foreign places threats.
Many of the constructions had been constituted of strengthened concrete and had been constructed to withstand artillery blasts, nonetheless they had been never meant to final, in accordance to Australian Nationwide Maritime Museum head of recordsdata Peter Hobbins.
An aerial look of the bunker at Blue Fish Level on the day Annika died. Credit ranking: 7NEWSThe Blue Fish Level bunker. Credit ranking: 7NEWSFollowing World Conflict II, the bunkers had been largely managed by the Division of Defence earlier than they had been stripped of armaments in the 1960s and handed over to national parks.
“Someplace in all of that direction of, there wasn’t an gigantic quantity of value put on these empty concrete shells,” Hobbins acknowledged.
“They had been then most regularly sharp left to decay.”
Decades on, rather a lot of the constructions silent exist and are with out anguish accessible alongside standard strolling trails. Now they’re continually aged as a put to drink, graffiti and for folks to fetch up to “different irascible activities,” says Hobbins.
In his 2007 pronounce, Davies chanced on some constructions had been in a downhearted situation and necessary urgent attention.
The Blue Fish Level bunker following Annika’s loss of life. Credit ranking: Division of Planning and Ambiance/ Archival Photographic File reportAnnika walked to the bunker alongside with her greatest buddy Bec. Credit ranking: Supplied He additionally chanced on there used to be downhearted pronounce retaining, no constant system to threat overview and a lack of funding to video show and retain your whole constructions.
On the time, he suggested that the NPWS beget it a excessive precedence to halt unsafe fetch correct of entry to to sites, rob health and safety dangers identified in the pronounce, and undertake urgent stabilisation works the put there used to be a threat of give plan.
He additionally suggested that the sites be monitored and a repairs pronounce be implemented at every set up.
“Present higher ranges of security to ‘at-threat’ sites as a matter of urgency,” he wrote.
Since then, Davies has had no involvement of their repairs.
“I bear never any conception what they’ve achieved,” Davies told 7NEWS.com.au.
A bunker in Malabar Headland Nationwide Park. Credit ranking: Division of Planning and Ambiance/ Archival Photographic File reportPart of an commentary set up in Kamay Botany Bay Nationwide Park. Credit ranking: Division of Planning and Ambiance/ Archival Photographic File reportA fortification in Kamay Botany Bay Nationwide Park. Credit ranking: Division of Planning and Ambiance/ Archival Photographic File pronounce“All of the constructions bear issues – there’s no query. Some of them are catastrophic when it involves, they’re at risk of failing. Others sharp need some esteem and care if they’re searching to be retained long time duration.”
“The World Conflict II ones are these that had been constructed quickest and most ephemerally … they’re these that are failing most,” Davies acknowledged.
“They’re presumably all reached the level the put they’re shut to halt of existence.”
Hobbins additionally has “main issues” about the assert of just some of the bunkers.
Since the constructions are shut to the flee, they’re uncovered to salt water – and meaning the steel reinforcing rods within the concrete continually rust, he acknowledged. Because the steel rusts, it expands and cracks the concrete, Hobbins acknowledged.
A bunker in Kamay Botany Bay Nationwide Park. Credit ranking: Division of Planning and Ambiance/ Archival Photographic File pronounce“That makes these constructions moderately fragile and presumably unsafe.”
Various environmental factors, such as tree roots and moss, are additionally contributing to the late decline of these constructions, as is deliberate vandalism.
“All of these factors indicate that even despite the reality that we name to mind these heavy accountability concrete bunkers as being eternal, they’re in fact moderately fragile,” Hobbins acknowledged.
“They’re long long gone their meant use by date.
“They’re with out a doubt continually relaxing to maneuver in and stumble on and factor in what it used to be pick on to be in there at some level of wartime… nonetheless just a few of them, I’m very wide awake, are unsafe.”
A coastal bunker in Malabar Headland Nationwide Park. Credit ranking: Division of Planning and Ambiance/ Archival Photographic File reportAn commentary tower in Malabar Headland Nationwide Park. Credit ranking: Division of Planning and Ambiance/ Archival Photographic File reportFreedom of recordsdata paperwork present that NPWS is planning to repair and stabilise just some of the constructions in Malabar, Cape Banks and Henry Head, in accordance to a finances listing of works from April 2022.
In a response to 7NEWS.com.au, NSW’s Division of Planning and Ambiance acknowledged four constructions at Blue Fish Level had been assessed by an engineer and stabilised, with warning signage and measures to halt public fetch correct of entry to.
“NPWS has undertaken a predominant quantity of works on constructions that are promoted and bear excessive level of visitation such as Malabar, Delight in Island, Georges Head, Middle Head, and Cape Banks,” the statement acknowledged.
“Administration of these sites comprises asbestos removal, scaling spalling concrete and different free parts, drainage and closure of tunnels with sand to halt fetch correct of entry to, and set up of balustrades and handrails.”
A Nationwide Parks and Wildlife Carrier spokesperson told 7NEWS.com.au that constructions with diagnosed or perceived dangers that require further overview bear threat management actions in put, alongside with signage and barrier fencing.
“Other folks are reminded to stare all signage and barriers for his or her safety.”
A elaborate balancing actBefore Annika’s loss of life, the Blue Fish Level bunker used to be grey, covered in graffiti and with out anguish accessible, in accordance to Annika’s family.
Following the tragedy, it used to be closed and a non permanent fence used to be erected. Steel rods and doors had been put in to abet prop up the construction and retain contributors out. Future plans are being made to retain the bunker birth in a protected manner.
It used to be additionally painted white covered in plant life by Annika’s family and associates. A plaque paying tribute to Annika used to be additionally airlifted into the positioning and sits in entrance of the construction, overlooking the ocean.
In step with the Division of Planning and Ambiance, permanent steel door and aperture shows, steel column supports, and signage had been put in on the Bluefish construction.
There’s more that desires to be achieved in the completely different sites, reveal experts – nonetheless addressing the bother isn’t continuously straightforward.
The World Conflict II bunker at Blue Fish Level used to be closed and painted white following Annika’s loss of life. Credit ranking: Division of Planning and EnvironmentThe bunker used to be fenced off and painted white following the tragedy. Credit ranking: Supplied A 1991 pronounce labelled the Blue Fish Level bunker as ‘derelict’ and ‘unsafe’. Credit ranking: Division of Planning and EnvironmentAll the fortifications are listed as heritage sites, meaning they’re protected beneath law.
Davies says their management comes down to 1 key battle: what fetch you fetch with a historically predominant put that has little need?
“How significant cash fetch you employ on something that at final is sharp going to depart?” he wondered.
The effort of managing the manner forward for the bunkers is a direct that’s no longer unfamiliar to NSW – and even Australia, Hobbins acknowledged. It’s a direct facing countries all all the plan thru the current British empire.
And while some constructions can even be preserved or stabilised, that’s no longer continuously an option.
“Others are truly very unsafe and in fact fetch must be closed off.”
Annika and her family. Credit ranking: Supplied However that can perchance perchance perchance present one other direct.
“If you shut them off, you help contributors in a manner … a locked door is continuously considered as an invite to maneuver in and stumble on.
“Some of them are falling down. Some of them presumably may perchance perchance perchance perchance silent in fact be demolished. I don’t pick on to teach that as a historian, nonetheless I have faith that they’re a threat. I don’t think they help significant ancient value in some locations.
“Then it becomes that beget of query of diminishing returns… how significant time may perchance perchance perchance perchance silent you put into retaining up a crumbling, concrete bunker, if nobody goes there and it’s no longer telling any stories.”
Whereas Hobbins acknowledged Annika’s loss of life used to be a “freak and irascible accident” he warned there may perchance perchance perchance perchance perchance be more incidents if motion isn’t taken.
Annika and her dad Jim. Credit ranking: SuppliedHe acknowledged the assert wants an integrated system to how the constructions are going to be managed.
“There’ll be, perchance tragedy at just a few of these sites if they’re no longer closed down.”
Anton in the starting put wished the bunker to be torn up following her loss of life.
The bunker, as soon as his thinking location, become a put he detested.
Now he thinks the bunkers must be saved nonetheless says they must be evaluated and made protected.
“If you asked me two years ago, I’d’ve acknowledged blow them all up. However now, I in fact fancy them all. It’s a segment of my childhood. We aged to maneuver up there and loaf all the plan thru the bunkers,” he acknowledged.
“It’s something that desires to beget there. However… they must go and reconstruct them and beget particular that they’re 100 per cent protected.
“I wouldn’t desire anyone to battle thru what we did because of a bunker.”
If you may perchance perchance perchance perchance bear a legend to portion, contact the journalist at EDaoud@seven.com.au.
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