A Hatfield family is “one step closer to getting their life back” after a tour company was convicted and fined for failings which led to a backpacker’s death.

Welwyn Hatfield Times: Zoe WoolmerZoe Woolmer (Image: Archant)

Zoe Woolmer, 23, was on a guided tour of Kings Canyon, Australia, in June 2014 when she tried to have her photo taken, but died after stumbling backwards off a hidden cliff ledge.

An inquest into her death heard the directors of the company said they knew nothing of the stunt but acknowledged they should have been aware.

In the Alice Springs Local Court, the judge said the tour guide encouraged Miss Woolmer and others to attempt the dangerous photo stunt.

The company’s directors were convicted and fined $140,000.

Following the court case in late June, Zoe’s mum Dawn said: “This result is a long time in coming.

“We have been waiting two years for an admittance of what we already knew from the start.

“I have said many times that Zoe would never knowingly put her life in any danger. She put her trust in this tour company and they let her and in turn let us down too. Their constant denial has been an additional pain and frustration added to the loss for us as a family.

“We are now relieved to get to this at last.”

Mrs Woolmer added: “We believe that we are now one step closer to being able to get back some sort of life as a family, but will still have to work hard at creating that without our lovely daughter and sister. We will do that for Zoe’s sake as she would not want us to be unhappy.”

“I hope nothing like this never happens again to any other family. Whilst we are still trying to come to terms with what has happened to us and our loss we hope that because of it Zoe’s death has not been in vain.”