The Vice-Chancellor of Charles Sturt University, Professor Ian Goulter, said today the University is deeply concerned for the health and welfare of the students involved in the recent bushwalking incident and rescue in the Blue Mountains.

“I am very concerned that this incident occurred, and it is extremely fortunate there were no fatalities or critical injuries.

“We have the utmost praise for the rescue and emergency services, including many volunteer personnel, for their retrieval of all students, in what appears to have been extremely difficult circumstances.”

The University believes the group consisted of students from the Bathurst Campus and that they had organised the bushwalking activity for the first weekend of their mid-semester break. The University is currently trying to clarify this.

Professor Goulter said the University has immediately commenced an internal inquiry into the incident.

“I will meet with the students, as we need to hear what happened. Uppermost in our mind at this time is their welfare.

“I would also like to expressly thank all parties involved in the successful rescue, and I will be personally contacting these parties. 

“I believe this rescue effort involved NSW Police, the State Emergency Service, NSW Ambulance Service and Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service, as well as a number of volunteers. I commend the actions and empathy shown to our students in this crisis, by all these people.”