A BRITISH father and son have been killed in a rock slide on holiday in Australia.
The boy's mother and brother were critically hurt in the freak accident after the family went hiking in the Blue Mountains north of Sydney.
Police said the family were all British nationals who were visiting from the UK, reports the Sydney Morning Herald.
The dad, 49, and son, aged nine, died at the scene while the mum, 50, and another boy aged 14 were airlifted to hospital in a critical condition.
A third child, a daughter aged 15, escaped serious injury in the landslip at the Wentworth Pass in Wentworth Falls at lunchtime on Monday.
Acting Superintendent John Nelson said the victims were crushed by falling rocks on a popular walking trail, reports ABC news.
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He said: "There were five people that were bushwalking.
"Unfortunately there has been a landslip while they have been bushwalking.
"As a result of that there has been a police operation that is in process as we speak. That is a rescue and recovery operation.
"Unfortunately, today as part of that landslide there has been a man and a boy who have passed away."
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Mr Nelson said a 15-year-old girl was walked out of dense bushland by paramedics, and she is lucky to be alive.
He added: "It's quite a tragic scene, we do have a girl who is walking out at the moment who is obviously extremely distressed and we're trying to talk to her to obtain further information."
The wounded mother and son suffered "significant head and abdominal injuries" and were treated at the scene before being flown to hospital.
Paramedics had to be winched down by helicopter as they could not reach the patients over the "extremely dangerous, unstable" terrain.
The remote mountainous site is around a 90-minute walk from the car park, and has been lashed by weeks of torrential rain.
Ambulance chief Stewart Clarke said it had been "a heartbreaking experience" for everyone involved in the rescue.
He said: "Any situation as has been described is obviously exceptionally confronting and heartbreaking, especially when you start involving children."
Police were guarding the hiking trail today amid questions about why it was open following recent floods.
The National Parks and Wildlife Service website said that part of the track was closed “due to flood damage and ongoing rockfall risk”.
However, Mr Nelson said the part of the track where the family was walking was open.
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New South Wales Police said: "The five people are all members of the same family and are British nationals who were holidaying in Australia."
"The British Consulate is assisting in the matter."
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