Early this morning Curtin University was advised that two Curtin WA School of Mines (WASM) students visiting the United States had sustained gunshot wounds during an incident in New Orleans.
Curtin Vice-Chancellor Professor Deborah Terry said both students were now in hospital and were reported to be in a stable condition.
“Both students’ families have been contacted and are arranging to travel to the US,” Professor Terry said.
“The University is providing support and assistance to the injured students and their families. Support is also being provided to the others in the group who were not in the vicinity of the shooting and are unharmed.”
Curtin WA School of Mines Director Professor Sam Spearing is flying to New Orleans tonight to provide support to the students and their families.
The students were in the United States as part of the WASM Wombats team which participated in the Intercollegiate Mining Games held in Montana. The Games had finished and a group of students went to New Orleans on a private holiday.
“This is a very distressing situation and our thoughts are with the injured students and their families. Curtin will continue to provide all the support it can to all those involved,” Professor Terry said.
Note to Editor: Professor Sam Spearing will not be available for media comment while he is in the US as his focus will be on providing support to those impacted by this incident.
