Weather News
One dead after Mt Warning campers struck by lightning, rescue operation underway
By Elloise Farrow-Smith and Riley Stuart, Tuesday December 6, 2016 - 12:19 EDT
A man has died and a woman has been injured after being hit by lightning while camping at Mt Warning, on the NSW north coast, police say.
Emergency services were called to the summit of the mountain about 4:50am today.
The man and the woman were camping at the summit, which is about 1.1 kilometres above sea level.
It is understood the woman has been taken to a local hospital and is being treated for head and neck injuries.
The authorities were bringing the man's body down the mountain.
Authorities could not use a helicopter in the rescue due to poor visibility.
Rhett Murray from the Murwillumbah rescue service said the operation could be a slow process.
"It's a two-and-a-half hour walk, then chains to the top so it's going to be a vertical rescue involving lowering people off the summit and then the walk back down again," he said
Walk popular with tourists
The five-hour round trip walk is popular with tourists who regularly climb to watch the sunrise from the summit.
Last night the state's north was lashed by rolling storms and constant lightning.
The Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) said more storms could be headed for the region today.
Mr Murray described Mt Warning as known for its wild weather.
"The mountain is a draw point for bad weather so it's a bit precarious at the moment," he said.
"Obviously the storm has gotten bigger than what they [the campers] expected, more intense and they just happened to be on the highest peak in the area."
Wild night in NSW
Further south, strong winds, hail, lightning and thunder lashed the NSW Mid-North Coast overnight.
Wind gusts of around 80 kilometres per hour brought down trees which then damaged powerlines in other parts of the region.
There were widespread power outages.
Coffs Harbour SES acting controller Bill Roffe said it was a wild night.
"It was a bit rough, great light show, plenty of noise, very strong winds," he said.
"There was about 30-odd millimetres of rain."
- ABC
© ABC
2016
More breaking news
Sydney Morning Herald
ABC News
National Nine News
News Limited
Now Temperature
At Darwin Ap
11:20 CST
34°C
26°C
Possible thunderstorm
Weather News
One dead after Mt Warning campers struck by lightning, rescue operation underway
12:19 EDT
A man has died and a woman has been injured after being hit by lightning while camping at Mt Warning, on the NSW north coast, police say.
Farmer's photos of NSW flooding turned into fundraising calendar
10:43 EDT
A farmer who lost nearly all his crops to floods has documented his experience in photographs and these are now being used for a flood relief fundraising calendar.
Skiing on summer snow
10:10 EDT
December snow is attracting skiers and boarders to Australia's alpine peaks for the chance to enjoy a rare summer shred.
