A New South Wales firefighter died after a tree fell on him while he was working the Hudson wildland fire near Walgett.
Fellow Rural Fire Service members rendered first aid until ambulance crews arrived – the patient was then transported to a Lighting Ridge medical facility where he passed away, the NSW Rural Fire Service said via Facebook.
The firefighter was identified as Captain Leo Fransen, 75, a member of the Diamond Beach RFS brigade, near Taree, since 2010.
“This gentleman made the ultimate sacrifice,” Commissioner Rob Rogers said, “His tragic and untimely death is a solemn reminder about the dangers faced by our firefighters.”
