Heartbreaking images have emerged of the mother and her two children who drowned with police reportedly treating the tragedy as a murder-suicide.
Haoi Nguyen, 32, and two of her children Mitchell and Hazel, aged seven and five, were all pulled unresponsive 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 about 10:15am on Saturday following reports a woman and two children were in the water ‘in distress’.
Locals desperately tried to save the family, jumping into the water and grabbing boats and jetskis as the trio were caught in a fast-moving current.
Since then, the jetty has 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, where Buddhist monks led prayers and incense was burned
Ms Nguyen’s husband was told of the tragedy when he returned home from work to find police waiting at his house with the couple also sharing a one-year-old baby son, who was with other relatives in Vietnam.
Police are investigating reports that the mother attacked bystanders who attempted to help the children, leading detectives to investigate if 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 has emerged of the two children playing on a tyre swing and celebrating a Hazel’s birthday.
There are also pictures of the two children playing at beach.
Family friends have also expressed their shock and sorrow on social media.
‘It’s very painful … my friend and two kids (were) suddenly lost today,’ a friend of Ms Nguyen’s posted on Facebook.
‘Two days ago I just talked to you (I am) waiting for you to come back.’
A GoFundMe campaign, started by family friend Sarah Vu, had by Sunday evening already raised over $33,000 of its $40,000 goal.
A Buddhist ceremony was held on Sunday at the scene of the tragedy in the south west Sydney
Buddhist monks led prayers and burnt incense as the local Vietnamese community rallied 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 been rallying around the bereft father following the horrific tragedy
A beloved mother and her two young children tragically drowned today im Lansvale leaving behind a profound void in our hearts and a father and baby who is only 1 years old,’ Ms Vu wrote.
I am fundraising on behalf of Hoai(32), Mitchell (7) and Hazel (5) and Macario(1). We hope to raise funds to aid the funeral and to assist the father to look after young Macario in this time of grief.
‘Every contribution, no matter how small, will make a significant 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 on Shearer Park off Hollywood Drive, Lansvale, on the Georges River following reports a woman and two children were in the water ‘in distress’
Acting Super Intendant Luke Scott from Fairfield City police said the tragedy was ‘beyond words’ with police now investigating the circumstances surrounding how the trio ended up in the water.
‘Police and a number of bystanders conducted an immediate search operation for that female and two children,’ Detective Scott said.
‘It’s beyond words, how tragic it would have been for people who observed what happened and also for the family.
‘A number of the bystanders made their own attempts to rescue the children and their mother but unfortunately they weren’t successful in that.’
Flowers were left on the boat ramp near where the mother and her two children were first seen in the water
Police launched a major search and rescue for the two children, however the pair were found hours later near the jetty
Detective Scott said police are investigating whether the children were swimming or fell in, and if the mother jumped in to rescue them among other possibilities.
It is understood, the young family, who is believed to be from the Fairfield area, were at Shearer Park playing before walking down to the boat jetty at about 10am.
Haoi was pulled from the water, with locals performing CPR on the 32-year-old before police and paramedics arrived.
Mitchell Nguyen is seen enjoying a day at the beach as family friends wrote about their shock at the tragedy
Hazel Nguyen is seen enjoying a day at the beach as she is mourned by shocked family and friends
A major search, including 100 emergency services personal, was launched in search of the missing children.
Mitchell and Hazel’s bodies were found at about 2pm just metres 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 relating to this incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
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