Dozens of teenagers celebrating the end of school at a beachfront holiday home are lucky to be alive after the balcony at the house collapsed.
The group of more than 40 people were partying at a three-bedroom home in Vincentia, on NSW’s South Coast, on Saturday night for their Schoolies celebration when the wooden balcony on the second floor collapsed about 11.30pm.
Four people — three females and one male — were taken to hospital with leg and back injuries.
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However most of the 40 standing on the balcony when it gave way managed to escape with minor injuries.
Video of the party, obtained by 7NEWS, showed the group crowded on the balcony before it buckled.
The group of teenagers can then be heard screaming out and swearing as the screen went black.
Photos taken at the house on Sunday showed the balcony clinging to the side of the house as the graduated school group looked in.
Emergency services rushed to the property after calls for help before later learning how many were on the small wooden balcony.
“About 11.30pm on Saturday 30 November 2024, emergency services were called to a house on Elizabeth Drive at Vincentia, following reports of a balcony collapse,” a spokesperson for NSW Police said.
“Officers from South Coast Police District were told approximately 40 people – all aged in their teens – were on the balcony when it collapsed.
“Four people — three females and one male — were injured and were treated at the scene by Ambulance Paramedics for minor injuries and taken to hospital for further treatment.”