Heartbreaking images have emerged of the mother and her two children drowning as police reportedly treated the tragedy as a murder-suicide.
Haoi Nguyen, 32, and two of her children Mitchell and Hazel, aged seven and five, were all pulled unconscious from the Georges River after they were reported in the water near Shearer Park in Lansvale in Sydney’s south-west.
Emergency services were called to the park’s boat ramp around 10.15am on Saturday after reports that a woman and two children were in the water ‘in distress’.
Locals desperately tried to save the family by jumping into the water and grabbing boats and jet skis when the trio were caught in a fast-moving current.
The jetty has since been turned into a makeshift shrine in memory of the three lives lost.
Shattered family, friends and locals gathered there on Sunday afternoon for an emotional Buddhist ceremony in memory of Ms Nguyen and her children, with Buddhist monks leading prayers and incense burning.
Mrs. Nguyen’s husband was told about the tragedy when he returned home from work to find police at his home, while the couple also shared a one-year-old son who was in Vietnam with other relatives.
Police are investigating reports that the mother attacked bystanders who tried to help the children, leading detectives to investigate whether it was a premeditated act, The Daily Telegraph reported.
Haoi (pictured left), 32, and her two children Mitchell and Hazel Nguyen drowned on Saturday
It comes as video originated from the two children playing on a tire swing celebrating a Hazel’s birthday.
There are also photos of the two children playing on the beach.
Family friends have also expressed their shock and sadness on social media.
“It’s very painful… my boyfriend and two children suddenly got lost today,” a friend of Ms. Nguyen posted on Facebook.
“I just talked to you two days ago (I’m waiting for you to come back).”
A GoFundMe The campaign, started by family friend Sarah Vu, had already raised more than $33,000 of its $40,000 goal as of Sunday evening.
A Buddhist ceremony was held at the site of the tragedy in Sydney’s south-west on Sunday
Buddhist monks led prayers and burned incense as the local Vietnamese community gathered around the father
People gather for the Buddhist service held at Shearer Park in Lansvale in Sydney’s south-west
The local Vietnamese community has rallied behind the bereaved father after the horrific tragedy
A beloved mother and her two young children tragically drowned in Lansvale today, leaving a deep void in our hearts and a father and baby just 1 year old,” Ms Vu wrote.
I’m raising money on behalf of Hoai(32), Mitchell (7) and Hazel (5) and Macario(1). We hope to raise money to support the funeral and help the father care for young Macario during this time of grief.
‘Every contribution, no matter how small, will make a big difference. Thank you so much!’
Vietnamese woman Haoi, 32, and her two children Mitchell and Hazel Nguyen, aged seven and five, drowned in the Georges River on Saturday
Emergency services rushed to the boat ramp at Shearer Park off Hollywood Drive, Lansvale, on the Georges River after reports of a woman and two children in the water ‘in distress’
Acting Superinspector Luke Scott of Fairfield City Police said the tragedy is “beyond words” and police are now investigating the circumstances surrounding how the trio ended up in the water.
“Police and a number of bystanders immediately conducted a search for that woman and two children,” Detective 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.’
Flowers were left at the boat ramp near where the mother and her two children were first seen in the water
Police launched a major search and rescue operation for the two children, but the pair were found hours later at the jetty
Detective Scott said police are investigating whether the children were swimming or fell in, and whether the mother jumped in to save them, among other possibilities.
It is understood the young family, believed to be from the Fairfield area, had been playing in Shearer Park before walking to the jetty at around 10am.
Haoi was pulled from the water while locals performed CPR on the 32-year-old before police and paramedics arrived.
Mitchell Nguyen enjoys a day at the beach as family friends wrote about their shock over the tragedy
Hazel Nguyen enjoys a day at the beach while being mourned by shocked family and friends
A major search was launched, involving 100 emergency services personnel, in search of the missing children.
Mitchell and Hazel’s bodies were found around 2pm, just meters from the jetty where they fell.
A report will be prepared for the information of the coroner in relation to the three deaths.
Anyone with information about this incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
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