Wallsend crash: Calls for mental health support after crowd injury

Following a vehicle crash on Newcastle Link Road in Wallsend that injured ten people, calls are growing for urgent mental health support for the community. The incident occurred on a Saturday morning as crowds gathered to farewell Newcastle Knights fans heading to a grand final.

At least four people remain in the hospital, including a five-year-old girl and a 67-year-old man who were critically injured. NSW Health confirmed that while six people have been discharged, others remain in stable or serious condition. The driver, identified as 18-year-old Indika Bambrick Samarasinghe, allegedly crashed into the crowd.

Wallsend MP Sonia Hornery has requested state-led trauma counselling from NSW mental health officials, noting that many witnesses, including children, have experienced significant trauma. Clinical psychologist Monica Schweickle noted that even those not directly hit by the vehicle may suffer from trauma symptoms and shattered senses of safety.