Heartbreaking images have emerged of the two children who drowned in a horrific tragedy in Sydney’s south-west on Saturday.
Mother-of-three Hoai Doan, 32, and two of her children, Mitchell and Hazel Nguyen, aged 7 and 5, were pulled unconscious from the Georges River near Shearer Park in Lansvale.
Emergency services were called to the park’s boat ramp at around 10.15am after reports that a woman and two children were in the water ‘in distress’.
Bystanders desperately tried to save the family, jumping into the water and grabbing boats and jet skis after the trio were caught in a fast-moving current, but were unable to save them.
Now images of the young siblings happily skipping along the street hand in hand have appeared on social media, shared by family friend Sarah Vu, who launched a campaign. GoFundMe appeal to raise money for their devastated family.
‘I can’t believe the fund has raised more than expected. I would like to sincerely thank all the contributions from the community,” Ms. Vu wrote alongside the video.
“The family has decided to take their sister and two children back to Vietnam.”
The GoFundMe has already raised more than $47,512, far exceeding its original goal of $40,000.
Vietnamese woman Hoai, 32, and her two children Mitchell and Hazel Nguyen, aged 7 and 5, (pictured) drowned in the Georges River on Saturday
Friends are shocked by the death of mother of three Hoai Doan (pictured right)
Ms Doan is survived by her partner and their one-year-old son Macario, who was with relatives in Vietnam at the time of the tragedy.
Police are investigating reports that Ms Doan attacked bystanders who tried to help the children, leading detectives to investigate whether it was a premeditated act.
It is believed her husband did that attended a Buddhist vigil on Sunday evening.
The family is believed to be part of the local Vietnamese community in Sydney’s south-west, which has rallied around the shattered father.
Fairfield Acting Chief Inspector Luke Scott described the tragedy as ‘beyond words’.
The police investigation into the circumstances surrounding how the trio ended up in the water continues.
“Police and a number of bystanders immediately conducted a search for that woman and two children,” Supt Scott said.
‘It’s unbelievable how tragic it would have been for the people who saw what happened, and also for the family.
‘A number of bystanders made attempts to save the children and their mother, but unfortunately they were not successful.’
Supt Scott said police were investigating whether the children were swimming or fell in, and whether the mother jumped in to save them, among other possibilities.
The family were part of the local Vietnamese community in south-west Sydney
Emergency services rushed to the boat ramp at Shearer Park off Hollywood Drive, Lansvale, on the Georges River after reports that a woman and two children were ‘in distress’ in the water
The local Vietnamese community has rallied behind the bereaved father after the tragedy
It is understood the young family were playing in Shearer Park before walking to the jetty at around 10am.
Ms Doan was pulled from the water while locals performed CPR on the 32-year-old before police and paramedics arrived.
A major search operation was launched, involving 100 people from the emergency services, looking for the missing children.
Mitchell and Hazel’s bodies were found around 2pm, just meters from the jetty where they fell.
A report into the triple drowning will be prepared for the coroner.
Anyone with information about this incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
If you or someone you know needs support, call Lifeline: 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue: 1300 22 4636.