Flying foxes fall from sky in Australia after being 'boiled alive' during searing heat wave

Thousands of flying foxes fell to their deaths as a record-breaking heat swept across Sydney, Australia, Sunday.

The animals were reportedly boiled alive as scorching temperatures exceeded 104 degrees Fahrenheit in Campbelltown in New South Wales.

According to the New York Post, animal welfare volunteers battled to rescue hundreds of babies and adults in agony, but a critical portion of the region's flying fox colony is believed to have died from the heat.

See photos of the flying foxes:

A spokesperson for the charity Help Save the Wildlife and Bushlands in Campbelltown wrote on Facebook Sunday: "The efforts of our volunteers yesterday was both heroic and heartbreaking."

"In extremely trying conditions, they worked tirelessly to provide subcutaneous fluids to the pups that could be reached and many lives were saved. But sadly, many lives were lost too."

"Hundreds of mainly young flying foxes were lost to the heat yesterday and the final count could run to thousands."

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The Australian heatwave reportedly featured temperatures that melted the bitumen on the highway, in addition to sparking bushfires politicians in the region have called a danger to life.

Nearly 400 homes lost power as a result of the heat wave and 50 fires were reported in the area on Saturday.

Local authorities sounded emergency warnings across Victoria and South Australia, where residents in rural areas were advised to seek shelter in buildings from out-of-control fires.

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