Four drown on camping trip

A girl, her father and two of her uncles drowned today on a Christmas camping trip in an Australian national park.

The drownings happened in a pool below McKenzies Falls in the Grampians National Park in southern Victoria state after a 12-year-old fell into the water and her relatives tried to save her, emergency services said.

A 17-year-old girl from the same extended family also had to be rescued and was in a satisfactory condition tonight.

Rural Ambulance Service spokesman John Mullen said paramedics and the crew of a rescue helicopter were shocked by the events.

“To have five people end up like that is unheard of,” he said. “One of the girls fell into the water and the other (girl) went in to help, and the men followed.”

The victims’ identities were not immediately released.