Zamon Kingi's White Water Odyssey

The End of an Era

17-year-old Zamon Kingi embarked on what was meant to be a final adventure with his best friend, Andrew Mulholland. The two had grown up together in Papua New Guinea, but Zamon was due to move back to the UK in a few months. To mark the end of an era, the boys joined the Mulholland family on a rafting expedition through the lush, untamed jungle—an experience they expected to be thrilling, but safe.

The trip was arranged by Pacific Expeditions, who had promised the Mulhollands a gentle “float trip” down the Angabunga River—an easy two-day paddle with only a short stretch of whitewater. After a safety briefing on the riverbank, the group was equipped with lifejackets, paddles, and helmets, then helped into a bright yellow, 14-foot inflatable raft. The plan was simple: float 12 miles to a halfway campsite the first day, then complete the journey the following morning.

We were excited. It was a giant adventure that was about to unfold

Zamon Kingi

A Wild Turn

The early stretch of the river passed through neat rows of cultivated gardens—vibrant patches of greenery and flowers maintained by local villagers. But before long, the landscape began to change. The jungle grew thicker, the canopy darker, and the river more aggressive.

It was like Jurassic Park, but on a big scale. You had a lot of water moving down and a big angry river charging down the gorge.

Zamon Kingi

The pace quickened. The calm current turned turbulent. The raft began to buck and sway violently, tossing the group like rag dolls. Panic began to set in. Then came the waterfall.

Before Zamon could make sense of what was happening, the raft was swept over the edge.

Chaos in the Churn

In the aftermath, chaos reigned. Some of the group surfaced downstream, clambering onto rocks and shouting for missing family members. Among the unaccounted for: Andrew and one other rafter.

Zamon’s world narrowed to one terrifying thought—Andrew was gone. But, he held onto hope.

I didn't feel like they were dead. There was a sense of hope that they were okay, but maybe they were injured. So where were they? How can we get to them?

Zamon Kingi

With no time to waste, Zamon joined the search effort. He and a small team set off down the river, navigating treacherous rapids and thick, almost impenetrable jungle. The threat wasn’t just the terrain—there were crocodiles in the water, venomous snakes in the undergrowth, and no guarantee that Andrew was even still alive.

It was a race against time, nature, and fear.

What began as a farewell adventure had turned into a nightmare. And for Zamon, the mission was now clear: find his best friend—before the jungle, or the river, claimed him forever.