Recent flooding has taken a tragic toll with the death of a five-year-old boy at Tullamore. The child’s body was located in a vehicle that was swept away in floodwaters north west of Parkes on the night of Friday, September 23.  Just before 11pm, emergency services were called to McGrane Way at Tullamore following reports two vehicles had been swept into flood waters. Inquiries revealed the first vehicle – a Toyota Hilux with five occupants – became submerged at the Genaren Creek crossing about 8pm. Four of those people - a 37-year-old man, a 28-year-old woman and a young boy and girl – managed to get out of the vehicle and were able to cling to trees, however a five-year-old boy became trapped in the car before it submerged.

About three hours later, a second vehicle entered the flooded crossing and submerged. The occupants managed to free themselves from the car before finding the occupants of the Hilux still clinging to trees. They alerted emergency services and a multi-agency response was initiated with officers from Central West Police District, NSW SES, NSW Rural Fire Service and NSW Ambulance paramedics. A boat was used to rescue the family and they were all taken to Dubbo Base Hospital for observation. The occupants of the second vehicle were uninjured.
Police remained at the scene overnight and a search operation commenced the following day (Saturday 24) to locate and retrieve the Hilux. At about 3.20pm, police divers located the boy’s body in the submerged vehicle, which has been retrieved and an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident is underway. A report will be prepared for the information of the Coroner.