Wentworth Falls: Man and boy killed and two critical after landslide in Sydney’s Blue Mountains
Boy and man are killed and two others are fighting for life after horror landslide struck during family bushwalk at popular tourist spot
Two are dead and two in critical condition after landslide in Blue MountainsEmergency services were called to Wentworth Falls in the national park Group of five bushwalkers were believed to be taken by debris in landslip A man and boy have died, a woman and boy are critical, and a girl was uninjured
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A boy and a man have died and two others are fighting for life after a group of five bushwalkers were caught in a landslide in the Blue Mountains west of Sydney.
Emergency services were called about 1.40pm on Monday after reports several people had been injured following a landslip on the Wentworth Pass loop track, at Wentworth Falls.
NSW Police have since confirmed a man and boy died at the scene, while a woman and boy are in a critical condition.
The fifth person, a girl, was physically uninjured.
A rescue operation is currently underway to winch the two critical patients out of the area and recover the two deceased. The girl has walked out of the area to safety.
Two bushwalkers have died following a landslide in the Blue Mountains west of Sydney
Early reports indicated the group were a family hiking through the area.
NSW Police Detective Acting Superintendent John Nelson described the incident as ‘a tragic scene’.
‘Our rescuers [are] working under quite arduous conditions,’ he told reporters on Monday evening.
‘A girl is walking out at the moment, who is obviously clearly [and] extremely distressed.’
Mr Nelson was unable to confirm the ages of the people involved, if they were locals, or whether they were related.
After the natural disaster, the uninjured girl reportedly walked 90 minutes to get help.
NSW Ambulance Acting Chief Superintendent Stewart Clarke said it is believed other walkers found the injured group and alerted emergency services.
‘They [the critical patients] have significant head and abdominal injuries requiring sedation prior to being extricated,’ he said.
Paramedics were winched from a rescue helicopter down the cliff face as they searched for anyone who had been taken by moving debris
‘Both patients have been treated. Once they are winched and extricated they will be taken to the most appropriate hospital.’
Authorities are still working to determine whether the landslide fell on the group while they were walking along a bush track, or if they were trekking along the cliff face that fell.
Seven paramedic road crews including special operations paramedics and two rescue helicopters with a critical care Doctor and a critical care paramedic on board were dispatched to the scene.
Rescuers have struggled to access the patients due to their remote location and the treacherous terrain, with weeks of torrential rainfall across the region creating slippery conditions.
Superintendent Clarke described the scene as an ‘extremely dangerous, unstable environment’.
‘This was a really complex and delicate rescue operation for our crews who were working to access patients in rugged bushland and were navigating unstable ground,’ he said.
A rescue operation (pictured) is underway to air lift the critical patients out of the area for further medical treatment
Rescue efforts have been hampered by the treacherous terrain, which has been ‘unstable’ due to recent rainfall
Despite recent downpours, it is understood the walking track was open to the public at the time of the tragedy.
Superintendent Clarke said the situation was devasting for everyone involved.
‘This is absolutely heartbreaking for all involved and a truly tragic ending to what I’m sure was meant to be a pleasant day out,’ he said.
‘It is terribly sad to have lost two lives here today and my heart goes out to the families and the survivors of this horrific ordeal who have witnessed what is certainly a traumatic event.’
