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Police have released the names of three children who were killed when a cliff collapsed on them as they played in a river in Manawatu yesterday.
They were Callum Warrick Langley, 10, his sister Keryn Sarah Langley, 8, from Palmerston North, and 13-year-old Michael Keith Liengme from Feilding.
Michael's brother, aged 10, escaped the incident with a minor leg injury.
Senior Constable Mark Glentworth said the children had been picnicking at Totara Reserve, about 30km north east of Palmerston North, with the parents and grandmother of Callum and Keryn.
The children were playing in a swimming hole in the Pohangina River when the cliff collapsed, bringing a huge section of debris and rubble crashing down on them.
Mr Glentworth said the adults managed to pull the boys out and tried to revive them, before Keryn -- who had been pushed under the water -- had been found.
She was located a short distance downstream from the accident.
The 10-year-old boy who survived was flown by helicopter to hospital suffering from shock and a suspected broken ankle. His mother flew with him.
A spokeswoman for Palmerston North Hospital said the boy was being assessed in the emergency department.
The tragedy happened about 6pm. The parents of the children were at the scene and watched as the cliff fell. Mr Glentworth said they were devastated.
The children were holidaying with their families at a camp at Totara Reserve, about 32km from Palmerston North.
Kelly Williams, the camp caretaker, said she tried calling 111 but could not get through. She then called the rescue helicopter.
"It's just devastating. Why do these things happen? They were just swimming and enjoying themselves."
Palmerston North's Square Trust rescue helicopter arrived just after 7pm to find the bodies of two of the children, both boys, lying on the opposite bank of the river to the collapsed cliff.
Another boy was sitting in a car in deep shock and with an ankle injury.
The body of the girl was not found immediately, which caused rescuers to hope briefly she might have survived.
The helicopter crew took off for Palmerston North Hospital but doubled back after the body of the girl was found under water 150m to 200m downstream.
The pilot, who did not want to give his name understood the four were playing in the river when the cliff collapsed on them.
St Johns Ambulance Central Region regional operations manager Grant Pennycook, who is based in Palmerston North, said: "It's horrific just before Christmas. It's shocking."
Wellington Police Inspector Tom Ireland said Manawatu-Wanganui Regional Council had closed the park and the cliff collapse would be part of a coroner's investigation.
The reserve, on Old Coach Rd, is a short scrambly drop down from the road 12km north of the Raumai Bridge.
Kelly Williams' father, Russell, who lives nearby, said the children had been at the camp last year and had enjoyed it so much they had returned.
Mr Williams said they had been talking about the visit of their grandmother from South Africa for Christmas.
- additional reporting NZPA, NEWSTALK ZB
