Young family inside caravan as it is stolen from park in Hughenden, western Queensland
A young family of five has jumped from their moving caravan as it was stolen during the night at an outback Queensland campsite.
A couple and their three children aged between six and 12 were asleep inside the caravan at Allen Terry Caravan Park in Hughenden, in the state’s west, when “they heard their car start and the caravan began to move” about 9pm on Monday.
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Young family’s terrifying outback ordeal.
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By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.It’s believed the family took the opportunity to escape when the thief slowed or stopped while exiting the caravan park.
Witness Donna Reading told 7NEWS she heard a “huge commotion... people yelling, screaming, shouting”.
“I’m thinking, ‘Oh my god what’s happening here?’ and there were people chasing it.”
The incident left tyre tracks on the ground, as the mobile home was still connected to power and water and had stabilisers down when it was stolen.
The family, who are believed to be travellers, was shaken up and had an array of cuts and bruises, according to witnesses.
They were taken to hospital to be checked over for injury by medical staff.
The car and caravan were dumped at a location two minutes down the road. However, the thief had fled before officers arrived.
They are believed to have been able to drive the car off using keys that were stolen earlier in the afternoon, according to police.
The popular Trip in a Van social media account, which documents another young family-of-five’s caravan travels around Australia, has expressed horror at the Hughenden incident.
“New fear unlocked,” read a post.
“Could you imagine how scary this would be? This is just nuts.”
