Two tourists were thrown from a camel during a sunset ride on Cable Beach in Broome after the animal broke away from its group and began bucking on Saturday evening.
A woman in her 60s was taken to Broome Hospital for urgent treatment. One person has since been discharged, while another remains in a stable condition.
Tourists fell onto hard beach sand
The two tourists were seated on the same camel and were understood to be travelling with a larger group when the animal separated from the organised line.
Footage shared on social media shows both riders attempting to hold on as the camel bucks repeatedly. They are eventually thrown from its back and land heavily on the firm sand while the animal continues bucking.
The video does not show what happened immediately before the camel broke away. It remains unknown whether noise, beach activity, another animal or a different factor caused it to become unsettled.
Woman taken to hospital under Priority 2 conditions
St John Ambulance paramedics transported a woman in her 60s to Broome Hospital under Priority 2 conditions. This classification indicates that a patient requires urgent medical attention, but it does not reveal the exact injury or its long-term seriousness.
WA Country Health Service later confirmed that one person had been discharged and another was stable. Authorities have not identified either tourist or disclosed their injuries.
The ambulance service specifically confirmed transporting the woman. It is unclear how the second tourist reached the hospital or which patient remained there.
Red Sun Camels approached for comment
ABC Kimberley approached Red Sun Camels after the incident, but a company representative said they were unable to comment.
The operator’s published conditions state that two passengers normally travel on each camel. Riders must have enough mobility and flexibility to mount without assistance and remain seated for the duration of the tour.
Participants are also required to follow safety instructions, while the cameleer has the final authority to decide whether someone is suitable to ride. There is no evidence that the tourists breached those conditions or contributed to the camel’s behaviour.
No announcement has confirmed that tours have been suspended, operating procedures have changed or the camel has been removed from service. There is also no public confirmation of a formal investigation by police or a workplace safety regulator.
Camel rides have operated since the 1980s
Camel tours have been offered on Cable Beach since the 1980s and have become one of Broome’s best-known visitor experiences. Tens of thousands of tourists reportedly take part each year, with sunset rides offering views across the Indian Ocean.
Shire of Broome president Chris Mitchell said his thoughts were with the injured tourists and wished them a quick recovery. He described such incidents as rare and said Broome remained a safe and welcoming destination.
Although trained camels are accustomed to carrying passengers, riding any large animal carries some risk. An animal may react unexpectedly to movement, unfamiliar sounds or changes in its surroundings.
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Advice for visitors joining animal tours
Travellers should listen carefully during safety briefings, disclose mobility or health concerns before riding and follow staff instructions if an animal becomes unsettled. Loose belongings should be secured before the tour begins.
Visitors should avoid relying on social-media footage to determine blame. The available video records the fall but does not establish why the camel became spooked.
People exploring the wider Kimberley should also be aware of regional wildlife and environmental hazards. A separate incident involving a fisherman bitten by a saltwater crocodile near Broome demonstrated why local safety warnings matter.
Those travelling north of Broome for coastal activities should also check the fishing zones in Bardi Jawi Gaarra Marine Park, where access and fishing rules vary between protected areas.
Key details remain unconfirmed
The cause of the camel’s behaviour, the precise injuries suffered by the tourists and the identity of the patient who remains stable have not been disclosed.
It is also unknown whether the tour operator is conducting an internal review or whether the same camel will continue carrying passengers.
The latest medical update and statements from local officials were reported by ABC Kimberley. Claims about what triggered the incident remain speculation unless confirmed by the operator or an investigating authority.
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