Beloved paramedic was off-duty when she was killed by a falling tree in the Blue Mountains in a freak accident - as her son, 20, is rushed to hospital with serious injuries

  • Mother-of-four Dearne Fulcher, 50, suffered fatal injuries on Thursday evening 
  • She was with son when a large tree crushed their Volvo in Katoomba about 7pm 
  • Ms Fulcher was a NSW paramedic with more than 25 years experience in field
  • She has been remembered as a 'shining light' in community and in profession

By ZOE ZACZEK FOR DAILY MAIL AUSTRALIA and AAP

Published: | Updated:

A female paramedic was off duty when she was killed by a falling tree in the Blue Mountains on Thursday. 

Mother-of-four Dearne Fulcher, 50, was being driven by her son Dylan when the tree struck their Volvo, on Victoria Street in Katoomba at about 7pm.

Ms Fulcher was killed while Dylan, 20, suffered horrific injuries and was flown to Westmead Hospital, in Sydney's west. 

Her colleagues from NSW Ambulance Service worked hard to save Ms Fulcher but were forced to abandon their efforts.  

Mother-of-four Dearne Fulcher, 50, was being driven by her son Dylan when the tree struck their Volvo, on Victoria Street in Katoomba at about 7pm

Mother-of-four Dearne Fulcher, 50, was being driven by her son Dylan when the tree struck their Volvo, on Victoria Street in Katoomba at about 7pm 

Ms Fulcher suffered fatal injuries when a large tree crushed their Volvo on Victoria Street in Katoomba, west of Sydney, about 7pm on Thursday

Ms Fulcher suffered fatal injuries when a large tree crushed their Volvo on Victoria Street in Katoomba, west of Sydney, about 7pm on Thursday

In a statement, NSW Ambulance said they expressed its 'deepest sympathy' to Fulcher family. 

The 50-year-old, who worked as a senior paramedic and clinician for more than 25 years, was described as a 'shining light' in the community and in her profession. 

She started with NSW Ambulance in April 1994, before working her way up to the role of Intensive Care Paramedic operating out of Penrith Super Station.

In 2002, Ms Fulcher was awarded a Bronze Bravery Medal for her brave actions in treating patients following a devastating series of fires in the Blue Mountains. 

'Always an extraordinary paramedic, Dearne displayed an enormous passion for delivering first-rate care to every single patient she encountered,' the statement said.

'Her strength of character was unrivalled.

The 50-year-old, who worked as a senior paramedic and clinician for more than 25 years, was described as a 'shining light' in the community and in her profession

The 50-year-old, who worked as a senior paramedic and clinician for more than 25 years, was described as a 'shining light' in the community and in her profession

The car was driven by Ms Fulcher's 20-year-old son, who was freed from the wreckage and flown to Westmead Hospital, in Sydney's west, with head and chest injuries

The car was driven by Ms Fulcher's 20-year-old son, who was freed from the wreckage and flown to Westmead Hospital, in Sydney's west, with head and chest injuries

'We, and the community of Katoomba, are forever indebted to Dearne’s service.' 

NSW Ambulance Commissioner Dominic Morgan said Ms Fulcher's co-workers were called to the scene to free her from the destroyed vehicle.  

He described the fatal accident as a 'very sad say' for the NSW Ambulance family.   

'You can imagine the loss of one of your own has a profound impact on paramedics that Dearne worked with,' he said, Nine News reported. 

'We had the privilege of catching up with some of them last night and I'm just so proud of every person who went to her aid in her greatest hour of need.

'It takes incredible professionals to care for someone they love in the most dire of circumstances but rise to the occasion and do everything they can to save someone's life.' 

In 2002, Ms Fulcher was awarded a Bronze Bravery Medal for her brave actions in treating patients following a devastating series of fires in the Blue Mountains

In 2002, Ms Fulcher was awarded a Bronze Bravery Medal for her brave actions in treating patients following a devastating series of fires in the Blue Mountains

NSW Ambulance Commissioner Dominic Morgan said Ms Fulcher's co-workers were called to the scene to free her from the destroyed vehicle

NSW Ambulance Commissioner Dominic Morgan said Ms Fulcher's co-workers were called to the scene to free her from the destroyed vehicle

Witness Samantha Jones said Thursday's fatal accident sounded like 'a bomb had been dropped'.

'It was the loudest explosion I'd ever heard. I didn't know what had happened,' she said.  

The direct cause of the tree fall remains unclear but a severe weather warning was in place due to damaging winds. 

The Bureau of Meteorology released an additional severe weather warning on Friday, with vigorous winds expected over southeast New South Wales for Friday and Saturday.  

Dylan remains in hospital in a serious condition.  

The direct cause of the tree fall remains unclear but a severe weather warning was in place due to damaging winds

The direct cause of the tree fall remains unclear but a severe weather warning was in place due to damaging winds

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