freak

adj. strange, odd, unusual


THE wind was ferocious and staff at the Snowy River camp- site where 12 schoolgirls were preparing for the first night of a 10-day rafting adventure were not taking any chances.

The McKillops Bridge site in East Gippsland was inspected to ensure that tents were pitched properly and "that the girls would be camping as safely as possible".

But the weather didn't improve — wind gusts exceeded 90 km/h — and about 2.30am yesterday, tragedy struck. Toorak College student Alice Sloan, 16, of Mount Martha, was in her tent when the rivergum's branch came down.

She was killed instantly. Another girl sleeping beside her survived without injury.

[ Schoolgirl, 16, killed in freak accident ]