A Ballarat couple in Las Vegas say they could’ve been visiting the strip that is now home to America’s worst ever shooting, had they not accidentally purchased the incorrect tickets to a show.
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Craig and Julie Ditchfield are visiting Las Vegas for their daughter’s wedding and staying at the Hard Rock Cafe.
Speaking to The Courier, Mr Ditchfield said they had originally intended to visit the strip yesterday, but he accidentally booked tickets for the wrong night.
However, he said he would most likely have been down the far end of the strip regardless and safe from the horrific scenes.
At least 58 people are dead and a further 515 are hurt after the shooting at the Route 91 music festival.
Police have named the gunman as 64-year-old Stephen Paddock, a retired accountant.
The tragedy is the deadliest mass shooting in modern US history.
Mr Ditchfield, who works at Albins Ballarat, was quick to jump on Facebook to let their friends know they were safe as soon as the news broke.
Their newly-wed daughter and her partner are now safe in Joshua Tree, while their son has returned home to Australia.
Speaking to The Courier via Facebook this morning, the Ditchfields say they are still watching the scenes unfold on television.
“Last night we had just come out of a show at our hotel and were sitting having a drink and a play of the poker machines and it popped up on the news,” Mr Dicthfield said.
“We soon realised that it was serious, pretty much everybody started watching. I went outside with a friend for a minute and then just came back inside.”
Mr Ditchfield estimated he was about five kilometres from the carnage.
However, keeping safe remained a priority.
“We didn't really try to leave, no one was allowed near the site of course and a lot of the streets are closed.
There is a massive help effort people lined up for miles to give blood and others supplying food and water to them.”
The Courier is going to attempt to be in further touch with the Ditchfields later this morning.