A father and his two sons have died after being overwhelmed by the fumes from a malfunctioning generator in a shed in the NSW mining town of Broken Hill.
Emergency crews were confronted by a "very distressing" situation when they arrived at a home in Creedon Street, Broken Hill, on Thursday afternoon and found the trio in a rear workshop.
Layne Harvey, 44, and his sons Kurtis, 16, and Jakeb, 23, were all in cardiac arrest.
The two younger men were overcome by the fumes when they tried to help their father, police believe. Mr Harvey's wife was home at the time.
There was little surprise at the brothers' final selfless act.
"That's the type of family they are," local man Jack Burke told Network Ten.
"They would have jumped straight down there and just tried their hardest to try and help him out."
Detective Inspector Michael Fuller says the incident has hurt the close-knit Broken Hill community.
"Everyone has either known the people or know of them," he told reporters on Friday.
"It's a tragedy when this happens and everyone can feel it."
Ambulance officers had to wait for NSW Fire & Rescue to arrive with specialised equipment to access the cellar.
Ambulance Inspector Lisa Darley said her team was confronted with a very tragic situation.
"It was very difficult to access ... the shed and then we found a very small opening about 40 centimetres by 40cm of concrete cut out in the floor of the building," she said.
"It was a very emotional and distressing scene and our paramedic crews went above and beyond and did everything they could to help all three patients."
The trio was taken to Broken Hill Hospital but couldn't be saved.
Firefighters attempted to clear the toxic gas on Friday but it wasn't safe enough for detectives to access. Specialist police will be sent in on Saturday.
Neighbours left flowers at the gate of the property and friends described the family as "very close".
Insp Darley said the deaths were a reminder of the dangers of gas.
"The worst thing for any person waiting for a loved one trapped underneath in a confined space with gasses ...is that you just want to go and save them."
Share
