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Australia deaths: Family found dead near broken-down vehicle in outback | Australia deaths: Family found dead near broken-down vehicle in outback |
(35 minutes later) | |
Three people have died and a boy is missing after their vehicle broke down in outback Australia, police say. | Three people have died and a boy is missing after their vehicle broke down in outback Australia, police say. |
The bodies of two adults, both 19, and their three-year-old son were found near a remote road about 1,000km (620 miles) south of Darwin on Wednesday. | The bodies of two adults, both 19, and their three-year-old son were found near a remote road about 1,000km (620 miles) south of Darwin on Wednesday. |
The deaths are not being treated as suspicious. Authorities are investigating whether heat may have contributed to the tragedy. | The deaths are not being treated as suspicious. Authorities are investigating whether heat may have contributed to the tragedy. |
A search is under way for a 12-year-old boy, said Northern Territory Police. | A search is under way for a 12-year-old boy, said Northern Territory Police. |
The group was last seen leaving Willowra, a small community, on Friday. The three bodies were found about 4.5km from the vehicle. | The group was last seen leaving Willowra, a small community, on Friday. The three bodies were found about 4.5km from the vehicle. |
"One of the avenues we are looking at is that they have walked off from a vehicle in extreme weather and may have got caught out," Supt Shaun Gill told the ABC. | "One of the avenues we are looking at is that they have walked off from a vehicle in extreme weather and may have got caught out," Supt Shaun Gill told the ABC. |
"Initially we thought it was the result of a car crash, however we are confident it's not." | "Initially we thought it was the result of a car crash, however we are confident it's not." |
Police said the alarm had been raised by a man who entered a health clinic in Willowra on Wednesday. | |
"He will be a critical part of the investigation. He is quite distraught about what he has found," said Supt Jody Nobbs. | "He will be a critical part of the investigation. He is quite distraught about what he has found," said Supt Jody Nobbs. |
Supt Nobbs said he could not give additional details, or confirm whether the missing boy was related to the family. | Supt Nobbs said he could not give additional details, or confirm whether the missing boy was related to the family. |
Temperatures in the region exceeded 40C in recent days, according to Australia's Bureau of Meteorology. | Temperatures in the region exceeded 40C in recent days, according to Australia's Bureau of Meteorology. |
The tragedy follows the suspected heat-related deaths of two people in separate incidents in northern Australia within the last two weeks, the ABC reported. | The tragedy follows the suspected heat-related deaths of two people in separate incidents in northern Australia within the last two weeks, the ABC reported. |