Teenage parents and two boys die after car breaks down in Australian outback

Remote: an airfield at Willowra, a small community 186 miles north-west of Alice Springs
NT POLICE

A boy of three, his teenage parents and a 12-year-old died in temperatures exceeding 40C after their vehicle broke down in the outback.

The bodies of two adults, both 19, and the child were discovered near a remote road. They may have been dead for several days, according to Northern Territory Police.

After an extensive land and air search, the 12-year-old boy travelling with the young family was found dead 400 feet away.

Police are not treating the deaths as suspicious and “remnants” of food and water were found at the scene near Willowra, 186 miles north-west of Alice Springs. Authorities are investigating whether the extreme heat may have contributed to the tragedy.

The group was last seen on Friday leaving the small community of Willowra destined for nearby Yarra Yarra. The three bodies were found nearly three miles from the vehicle.

Police superintendent Shaun Gill said: “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. Initially we thought it was the result of a car crash, however we are confident it’s not.”

The three bodies were discovered by a man who raised the alarm at an Aboriginal health clinic in Willowra just before 12.30pm yesterday.

Superintendent Jody Nobbs said: “He will be a critical part of the investigation. He is quite distraught about what he has found.

“This does serve, unfortunately, as a timely reminder for anyone travelling on Northern Territory roads to ensure that when you travel your vehicle is in a fit state, that you have sufficient supplies including water and a first aid kit, and that someone is aware of what your travel itinerary is — when you intend to leave, arrive and your anticipated routes.”

The police chief said the two adults and child may have died days ago. He could not confirm the 12-year-old boy’s relationship to the young family.

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.

Police are yet to rule out that there were more passengers in the vehicle.

Mr Nobbs said: “Although police have no information that suggests there were other passengers in the car, we will continue a precautionary land and air search until we are satisfied that all areas of interest have been sufficiently canvassed.”

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