Tragic end in search for girl after dad’s river death
The body of a young girl was pulled from the river hours after her father was pulled from the water near a rented boat.
Police were desperately searching a stretch of the Parramatta River in Sydney’s inner west for the girl, believed to be seven years old, after her father’s body was found in the early hours of Saturday.
The girl’s body was found by police divers around 17.30.
The girl’s mother and the man’s wife have been informed of the tragic development and are providing support as the police investigation into their deaths continues.
Police were called to Hen and Chicken Bay in Concord around 11:45 a.m. following reports of a man floating in the water and believed to be dead.
Officers boarded a person from a public boat, pulled the man from the water and administered first aid, but were unable to revive him.
Before the girl’s body was found, specialist officers, including police divers and sea and air teams, were deployed.
NSW Police Burwood Command Superintendent Christine McDonald said investigations into the cause of the incident were ongoing.
The man has not yet been formally identified but police said the family had come from Westmead in Sydney’s west and had rented the boat for the day.
Ms McDonald said police understood the girl was the couple’s only child.
“Frankly, seeing a mother in this situation would shake any mother to her core,” she said.
Police said a friend of the man contacted police an hour after his body was found, expressing concern for the welfare of the father and daughter.
Ms McDonald said whether the incident, including domestic violence, was intentional or an accident was a “definitive” matter of investigation.
“It’s only been a few hours since we located this man, so there’s a lot of investigation going on right now,” he said.
“But can I say from the very beginning that this is an absolute tragedy for the family and the community on every level?
“We will leave no stone unturned.”
As part of the police investigation, the man’s chartered ship will be searched.
Anyone with information is asked to contact police.
1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732)
Lifeline 13 11 14
Male Referral Service 1300 766 491
beyondblue 1300 22 4636
