A young child has died in hospital after being found unresponsive inside a home engulfed in flames in Central Australia.
Authorities are investigating the tragedy after they were called to the Thorold Court home in Larapinta about 10.30am Thursday.
Firefighters arrived within seven minutes of neighbours raising the alarm and forced entry into the home, with reports a person was inside the property.
The child was found in the front part of the home and attempted CPR at the scene.
But the child could not be revived and remained unresponsive, later being declared dead at Alice Springs Hospital.
NT Fire district officer southern Stephen Hunter said investigators were now working to determine the cause of the blaze and whether there were other people at the property at the time.
A child has died in hospital after they were found unresponsive inside a home on Thorold Court, Larapinta. Picture: Laura Hooper
“Neighbours alerted Triple-0 and troopers responded immediately arriving within seven minutes,” he said.
“The child was found in the front half of the house, however the specifics around that form part of the ongoing investigation.
“We cannot confirm who else was in the home, that forms part of the ongoing investigation but my officers are working with the coroner and Regional Crime Command to flesh out those details.”
Police and fire service vehicles remained at the residence into the afternoon of the incident.
A trampoline and a sandpit with several childs’ toys were visible from the roadway, with the tape surrounding the property.
Officer Hunter said the incident had an impact on the community, particularly the emergency services involved in the rescue.
“Alice Springs is a very tight community and the emergency services community is even tighter,” he said.
“This has had a large impact on the members involved across St Johns, fire and rescue and police, we all have young families and it has affected a lot of us.
“It has also affected the locals and you can see family and friends rallying around and showing the care and support communities here have.”
Larapinta is a suburb on the outskirts of Alice Springs, 6km outside the CBD.