A teenage Mandurah cricket star representing WA in Sri Lanka at the time of the Easter Sunday terror attacks is expected to land back in Australia tonight, safe and unharmed.
Georgia Wyllie, 17, has been touring with the Western Australian Cricket Association's (WACA) female development squad and was in the Asian country when multiple suicide bombings at churches and hotels killed at least 290 people.
Sri Lanka was placed under a state of emergency on Monday as authorities aimed to maintain security and essential services during investigations into the attacks.
In an official statement released on Sunday, the WACA said the young touring group were safe in Galle.
"The group of 10 athletes and three coaches have been in contact with the WACA and Cricket Australia and are seeking advice from the Australian Embassy on a plan moving forward," they said.
"The tour group are currently safe in their Galle hotel, about an hour-and-a-half from the site of the bombings, and will be escorted by local police to the airport ahead of their return.
"All parents and families of the young players have been informed and the WACA will remain in contact until the group is home."
Georgia's family said the group had been escorted by police to the airport and were expected home on a flight later tonight.
"They were playing 20 minutes away from the bombs and the hotel was two minutes away," a Facebook post reads.
Mandurah cricket prodigy Georgia has represented Western Australia on the national level.
Having played with the Mandurah Cricket Club as a youngster, she made the switch to South Perth to pursue the sport she loves some years ago.
Her surname is synonymous with cricket in the Peel region, particularly at the Mandurah Cricket Club, where the grandstand is named after her father John.
The Peel Cricket Association's A-grade trophy, the Wyllie Cup, also honours her father, along with her uncle Peter.
Georgia was also honoured by the Western Australian Cricket Association (WACA) in January 2018, when she was named the Young Female Volunteer of the Year for the 2017/18 season.
Perth couple Dr Sally Bradley and her husband Bill Harrop have been confirmed as the two Australian casualties in the terror attacks.
Tributes have been paid to the pair, who lived in the Rockingham area.
Justin Rake
Sports journalist for the Mandurah Mail, Australian Community Media, Fairfax Media.
Sports journalist for the Mandurah Mail, Australian Community Media, Fairfax Media.
Kaylee Meerton
Email: kaylee.meerton@fairfaxmedia.com.au
Email: kaylee.meerton@fairfaxmedia.com.au
