Hero policewoman, 39, who survived cancer dies trying to save female student, 24, who drowned after getting sucked into a notoriously dangerous whirlpool during a trek in the Blue Mountains
- An international student and a policewoman drowned in the Blue Mountains
- The heroic police officer was trying to save the student from a whirlpool
- Friends tried to lower a rope to save the canyoners but were forced to give up
- Bodies of Senior Constable Kelly Foster and the student were found on Sunday
An international student, 24, and a policewoman have drowned in the NSW Blue Mountains, with witnesses reporting the heroic officer was trying to save the student from a whirlpool.
The bodies of Senior Constable Kelly Foster, 39, and the younger woman were recovered on Sunday about midday after they went missing at Wollangambe Canyon yesterday.
Witnesses said Senior Constable Foster tried to rescue the younger woman after her inflatable lilo was swept in by a whirlpool, tipping her off and into the water.
But she was also swept into the whirlpool as she tried to haul out the stricken tourist.
Their friends attempted to save the pair by throwing a rope towards them but they failed to surface.
Witnesses say Senior Constable Kelly Foster, 39, attempted to rescue the younger woman after her inflatable lilo was swept in by a whirlpool, tipping her off and into the water
The younger woman has not been identified but is believed to be a 24-year-old international student from Chiswick in Sydney. (pictured emergency services after operation was launched to find the pair)
Police and ambulance crews rushed to the scene about 2.30pm and helped eight other members of the group the pair were part of, who were not injured
The younger woman has not been identified but is believed to be a 24-year-old international student from Chiswick in Sydney.
The women disappeared beneath the water at Mount Wilson on Saturday afternoon.
Police and ambulance crews rushed to the scene about 2.30pm and helped eight other members of the group the pair were part of, who were not injured.
The search resumed on Sunday morning with police divers joining the effort, after it was suspended about 6pm on Saturday because of poor weather.
It’s believed both women were canyoning in water only that can only be reached after hours of hiking through rough terrain
It’s believed both women were canyoning in water only that can only be reached after hours of trekking through rough terrain.
Canyoning involves hiking, swimming, abseiling and navigating rock formations while travelling through canyons or river areas.
Snr Cst Foster, who was a cancer survivor, had most recently been stationed at Lithgow.
A report will be prepared for the coroner.
The canyon is believed to have been flooded due to recent heavy rainfall.
The other members of the group were uninjured and were assisted by police officers and paramedics.
The search resumed on Sunday morning with police divers joining the effort, after it was suspended about 6pm on Saturday because of poor weather
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