A young American tourist who was killed in a lightning strike on the summit of Mount Warning has been remembered by his friends as a fun-loving adventurer who had lived life to the fullest.
Sam Beattie, 24,and his girlfriend, Michele Segalla, 23, had flown into Sydney in early October from their home in New York, and were planning to spend a year travelling across Australia in a campervan.
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Sam Beattie was with his girlfriend on a holiday of lifetime when tragedy struck while the couple were camping on Mt Warning Vision courtesy Seven Sunrise
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American tourist killed by lightning strike
Sam Beattie was with his girlfriend on a holiday of lifetime when tragedy struck while the couple were camping on Mt Warning Vision courtesy Seven Sunrise
"Fit our lives into five bags (minus 2 neck pillows)," Mr Beattie wrote on Instagram, beside a photograph of the pair sitting on a plane. "Next stop Sydney!"
In the first eight weeks of their dream trip, the couple had already travelled along the NSW and Queensland coasts, posting photographs on social media showing them enjoying themselves in Seal Rocks and Byron Bay, sipping wine in the Gold Coast Hinterland and swimming with dolphins on Stradbroke Island.
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On Monday, they had pitched their tent at the summit of Mount Warning, just south of the NSW-Queensland border. Camping is prohibited on the 1556-metre peak, but it is a popular place to watch the sun rise.
On Monday night and into Tuesday morning, however, a series of extraordinary electrical storms battered the region, shocking local residents with their ferocity.
Up on Mount Warning, Mr Beattie and Ms Segalla had pitched their tent under a tree, which was struck by lightning in the early hours of Tuesday morning.
Mr Beattie's feet were touching the tree and he was killed instantly, while Ms Segalla suffered minor injuries to her head and neck and her hair was singed. A group of hikers who arrived at the summit early on Tuesday morning reportedly found her crying in the tent beside Mr Beattie.
Superintendent Wayne Starling, the Tweed-Byron Local Area Commander, said the hikers arrived at the summit about 4.50am, a short time after the lightning strike, and attempted to revive Mr Beattie.
"I know two people have rendered first aid to the male for at least an hour, trying to resuscitate him. Unfortunately they couldn't bring him back," Superintendent Starling said.
"It's a horrible experience, a horrible situation for them. They're obviously distressed by it, as anyone would be."
He described the storms on the night as extraordinary, and the conditions for rescuers hiking up the mountain as treacherous.
"It's very, very unusual for something like this to happen ... so I'm not judgmental of the people in any way whatsoever. These things just happen, sadly it's a part of life. The weather just had a traumatic effect on many people's lives," he said.
"I can't judge. People do what they do, you know. It's just a tragedy. Regardless of whether they should be there or not, it's just a tragedy to lose a life."
Emergency service workers hiked up the mountain and treated Ms Segalla for head and neck injuries, before taking her to Murwillumbah Base Hospital for treatment.
The weather conditions prevented a helicopter from landing on Mount Warning, so emergency services brought Mr Beattie's body down the mountain on a stretcher.
Shocked friends remembered Mr Beattie on social media as a fun-loving and fierce friend.
"I was heartbroken this morning to learn one of my oldest friend's... passed away," one friend, Conor, wrote.
"It was a horrible accident but he was living life to the fullest and exploring the world. Everyone who knew Sam knew how great, fun-loving, and what a fierce friend he was. Please keep his family in your thoughts and prayers."
Another friend, Tim, said: "Can't even fathom this. You were a brother of ours. See you in Valhalla man."
Gary wrote: "RIP Sam ... you legend you. You taught us all how to live life how it's supposed to be lived and for that you will be forever worshipped."