Child dead, three others critical after stabbing in the Blue Mountains
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A child has died and three other people are in a critical condition after a stabbing in the NSW Blue Mountains.
Emergency services were called to Valley Heights, near Springwood, at 12.45pm on Sunday.
Paramedics took two children and a woman to hospital. 9News
Police were told several members of the public gave the woman and children first aid while they called Triple Zero.
One of the children was found dead in a car, police said.
Paramedics treated the two children and the woman at the scene before they were taken to Westmead Hospital and Westmead Children’s Hospital in a critical condition.
NSW Police Superintendent John Nelson said the investigation was in its early stages and police were not able to release many details.
NSW Police Superintendent John Nelson addresses the media. 9News
“What I can say is that the wider family have not been contacted in relation to this matter, so out of respect for them, I’m not going to provide those details at this stage,” he said.
Nelson said the children’s father had been notified.
“Obviously you can imagine receiving that tragic news,” he said.
“The person is at work just going about their business and they’ve had this information provided to them.”
Police said the children were believed to be aged less than five and the woman was in her 40s.
The identities of the woman and three children have not been confirmed.
A crime scene has been set up and police say they are not looking for any other people.
Emergency services were called to Valley Heights, near Springwood at 12.45pm on Sunday. 9News
Nelson said the scene was confronting for police officers.
“Like any human being, it’s a tragic circumstance to be exposed to,” he said.
“What I can say is they’re highly professional officers who responded in such a professional way.”
He acknowledged the effects the scene would have on bystanders.
“People are just going about a lovely Sunday afternoon,” he said.
“To be confronted with this is traumatic and tragic for anybody.”
Police are asking anyone with information, dashcam or mobile phone footage to contact Springwood Police Station or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
A Toll rescue helicopter was called to the scene in Valley Heights. 9News
Blue Mountains City councillor Darren Rodrigo described the incident as “absolutely horrendous and tragic”.
“Our deepest love and condolences to the immediate family and our prayers with all the children involved,” Rodrigo said.
“A massive thank you to the community members who intervened to provide medical assistance and to our first responders for their incredible support and courage during this time.”
Valley Heights is a small town in the Blue Mountains, located about 70 kilometres from Sydney, with a population of about 1188 people.
This stabbing is the latest in a string of tragedies in NSW in recent days.
A man has been charged with murder over the alleged stabbing death of a 90-year-old woman at a unit in Bondi Beach.
In another separate incident, another man has been charged over the alleged stabbing death of a 23-year-old woman at a home in NSW’s Riverina region.
Another man has been charged with murder over the death of a 70-year-old woman at Mole River in the NSW Northern Tablelands.
Support is available from the National Sexual Assault, Domestic and Family Violence Counselling Service at 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732).
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