Man dies and four in hospital after falling boulder crushes family car during holiday

Trip to China's Sichuan province ends in tragedy as one dies and four are injured when huge rock lands on the back of their BMW

Tragic: The remains of the boulder at the scene of the incident

A man died and four were seriously injured when a giant boulder fell out the sky and crushed their luxury car.

Song Ni, 55, died instantly when the rock struck the BMW during a family holiday in China's Sichuan province.

Four of his relatives, who were enjoying a family holiday, were also hospitalised after the incident around 10.40 local time on July 31.

Mr Ni was believed to have been sightseeing at a beauty spot on the outskirts of Santai village shortly before the boulder broke free and destroyed the back the car.

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Tragedy: All five were taken to hospital but Song Ni was pronounced dead

Tourism officials said falling debris is not uncommon in the area, but a dense barrier of vegetation had previously prevented rocks reaching populated areas.

However, the undergrowth failed to stop the sheer size and force of the boulder as it smashed its way through trees and struck the car, where it killed the middle-aged man and left four other members of his family hospitalised.

Emergency workers played down fears of a repeat incident, but plan on installing signs to warn sightseers of the potential dangers of falling debris.