SYDNEY, Australia — A tragic search operation in Sydney’s inner west has ended with police confirming the death of a young girl whose father was earlier found dead in the Parramatta River.Police divers recovered the body of the girl, believed to be between six and seven years old, on Saturday evening following hours of intensive searches near Bayview Park in Concord.
The search began after a member of the public spotted a man’s body floating in the water near the park shortly before midday. Emergency services rushed to the scene and located the body of the girl’s father, a man in his 40s from Westmead. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
According to police, the father and daughter had rented a small boat earlier in the day and were travelling along the Parramatta River before the incident unfolded.Following the discovery of the man’s body, authorities launched a large-scale search operation involving police divers, marine units and other emergency personnel to locate the missing child.
After several hours of searching, police divers located the girl’s body in the water near the search area.
Investigators are now working to determine exactly what occurred. Police have not yet released details about the circumstances leading to the deaths.Authorities confirmed that the girl’s mother is receiving support as detectives continue their investigation.
Police said one line of inquiry being examined is whether domestic violence may have played a role in the incident, though no conclusions have been reached.A report will be prepared for the coroner as investigators seek to establish the full circumstances surrounding the tragedy.
The deaths have shocked the local community, with residents expressing sorrow as emergency crews concluded the search operation along the river on Saturday evening.
