A mother and her infant child have died at a lookout south of Sydney.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
or signup to continue reading
Emergency services were called to Robertson Lookout, at Mount Keira near Wollongong, just after 1.50pm on Tuesday following reports people might have gone over the edge of the cliff.
The woman, believed to be in her early thirties, and a two-year-old-girl were found at the bottom of the lookout.
Superintendent Chris Craner, District Commander of Wollongong Police District, said it was "very early in the piece" and investigations were ongoing.
"This is going to be absolutely devastating for the community who don't know these people, who hear this and what it's about. It's going to be devastating for the family," he said.
"My thoughts are also with the emergency services ... who have turned up to this horrific incident this afternoon."
He said police had reached the area about 3.30pm to investigate what had happened after a 20-minute hike to the site.
"Anyone in the Illawara who knows this area, it's steep, it's hectic. We've got police coming in from the low side, police trekking down from the high side, and we've got the considerations of the helicopter," he said.
"It's a treacherous, dangerous area that we need to get to, to respectfully get these people out."
Emergency services were sighted taking abseiling gear from Harry Graham Drive, near the lookout, into the bush in the afternoon.
Superintendent Craner said some family members had turned up to the site, where they were comforted by police and ambulance workers.
A crime scene has been established as officers from Wollongong Police District conduct inquiries.
Lifeline: 13 11 14.
With Illawarra Mercury
