A young Melbourne woman who died in Nepal has been remembered for her adventurous spirit and “beautiful soul”.
Kayaker and outdoor guide Cassandra Emary, 23, was in the popular adventure-tourism area of Pokhara when she died after an accident in the river last week.
Family and rafting teammates have paid tribute to the outdoor-loving Gembrook woman they say lit up the faces of all whom she met.
Relatives wrote in a Herald Sun tribute: “Our hearts are broken now and forever … Till we meet again. Paddle free beautiful girl.”
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READ NOWMiss Emary, known to friends as Cass, had been competing in the world championships in her sport in Argentina earlier this month before heading back to Nepal where she had spent time guiding.
She died on November 29 after suffering serious injuries while kayaking in the Seti river, according to local news outlet the Himalayan Times.
The Australian Rafting Federation and International Rafting Federation made emotional announcements to the kayaking community, adding they hoped Miss Emary’s spirit would live on.
“Not one to let boundaries or challenges get in her way, Cass was an avid white water kayaker and adventurer,” the IRF said.
“ At only 23, her energy and voracity for life showed in all aspects of her life.
“Paddle on sister, we’ll meet you in the big eddy in the sky.”
The ARF called the young woman “a beautiful soul”.
“Cass had only just finished competing for Australia at the Argentina world champs and was looking for to representing her country on home soil next year,” the federation wrote.
“I’m sure she would want everyone to keep living life as one big adventure as she was doing and paddle on.”
Pokhara, 200km west of the capital Kathmandu, is at the base of popular Himalayan treks and a mecca for travellers wanting to take on adventures in paragliding and kayaking.