Homeowners are being urged to carry out safety checks after a second-storey balcony collapsed on the NSW South Coast, injuring five people.
A 63-year-old woman in a wheelchair remains in a critical but stable condition with facial fractures after the balcony at a North Nowra home gave way during a 30th birthday party on Saturday night.
Up to 25 people were on the balcony at the time.
Also injured were a two-year-old boy, who suffered head injuries, a woman, 31, who had arm fractures, and two other women, 41 and 45, with suspected spinal injuries.
They were taken to Shoalhaven Hospital and later released, but the 63-year-old woman was airlifted to St George Hospital where she remains critical but stable.
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NSW Police Inspector Paul Condon said police at the scene described it as chaotic.
"They said there were injured people everywhere and a lot of people screaming and yelling," he told ABC radio.
"They were there for a 30th birthday party and everyone was assembled waiting for the cake and as people came out, unfortunately the verandah has collapsed."
Building advisory service Archicentre has urged all homeowners to undertake regular checks and maintenance.
"If people find faults they should take immediate action to repair them and if they are not sure to seek professional advice," Archicentre general manager Cameron Frazer said.
"The holiday period is also a time when many homeowners decide to build a balcony or deck themselves, and we are urging them to do it properly and ensure that they obtain council building approval if required, before commencing building."
