A man and child have been killed after being hit by a landslide in the NSW Blue Mountains.
The pair were part of a family of five on holiday from Britain, who were bushwalking through Wentworth Pass at Wentworth Falls yesterday when tragedy struck.
“About 1.40pm on Monday, emergency services were called to Wentworth Falls, after reports of a concern for welfare for five bushwalkers following a landslip in the vicinity of the pass,” NSW Police said.
“A rescue operation involving local police, Police Rescue, Fire and Rescue NSW, NSW Ambulance paramedics, National Parks & Wildlife Services, Blue Mountains detectives, PolAir and rescue helicopters, commenced to retrieve the five people”.
Despite desperate attempts by emergency crews, a 49-year-old man and 9-year-old boy died at the scene.
A 50-year-old woman and another boy, aged 14, were also seriously injured in the landslide.
They were winched from the area just before 6pm and flown to hospital in critical conditions.
A 15-year-old girl was able to walk out with the assistance of emergency services. She was treated for shock and taken to the Children’s Hospital at Westmead.
Officers from Blue Mountains Police Area Command have commenced inquiries into the circumstances surrounding the incident.
The British Consulate is assisting in the matter.
