An American backpacker was killed after the severe storm that swept through NSW on Tuesday morning.
Sam Beattie and his girlfriend Michele Segalla were camping in a remote campsite on top of MT Warning near the QLD-NSW border when the storm hit.
The 24-year-old died instantly after the tree which their tend was tied to was struck by lightening, according to the Courier Mail.
Around 15 minutes later two hikers found Ms Segalla, who had suffered only minor injuries, crying and cradling her boyfriend’s dead body.
The hikers attempted to perform CPR on the man but it was too late.
One of the hikers went to get help, which due to their remote location was hours away, while the heartbroken women stayed by her boyfriends side.
“They’d pitched their tent to a tree and just shortly prior to 4.50am this morning lightning struck the tree and went through the tree,” Tweed/Bryon LAC Superintendent Wayne Starling told the Tweed News .
“It appears it may have touched the male’s seat in the tent and sadly killed him.”
He also commended the efforts of the to hikers who tried their best to save the man.
“They’ve got to be proud of the effort they made to save another human’s life,” Supt Starling said.
“They should have no baggage from what happened up on the mountain today. The lady didn’t appear to be seriously injured at the time.”
“Their main priority was trying to save the male that was deceased.”
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