Scots teenager who died in Australian bush hike tragedy named

By FIONA MACGREGOR
Published on 23/12/2012 11:39

A SCOTTISH teenager who died after collapsing while hiking in Australia has been named.

Ewan Williamson, 14, was bush walking with his 49-year-old father in Cape Range National Park in Western Australia, on Friday, when he collapsed.

The teenager’s father called the emergency services at around 2pm.

Police said the pair had travelled to the area at around 10am to walk along the Badjirrajirra Creek.

They were found around 700 metres down a gully, and near the car park of the Badjirrajirra Creek walk.

St Johns Ambulance officers treated the boy at the scene, but his condition deteriorated. He was taken by ambulance to nearby Exmouth Hospital where he died in the early evening.

The teenager had been staying with his father, who is from Geraldton, around 260 miles north of Perth.

Conditions in the remote Cape Range park can become extreme, with temperatures regularly breaking 50C in Australia’s summer months between November and March.

Police said the cause of death and the circumstances surrounding the death are still to be determined.

A report will now be prepared for the Western Australia State Coroner.