The two children who drowned in Perth’s Swan River on New Year’s Eve were a four-year-old girl and a six-year-old boy who knew each other, police have revealed.
Key points:
- A four-year-old girl and six-year-old boy were found floating in Perth’s Swan River
- Despite treatment at the scene, they could not be saved
- WA Police said both families need to be allowed to grieve for their children
Acting Commander Mark Longman described the incident as tragic.
“We can only begin to imagine the trauma and suffering that those families will be experiencing at this time,” he said.
The children were found in the river near the Burswood Park Playground about 5pm, adjacent to hundreds of revellers who had gathered early on the river foreshore to ring in the New Year.
Police would not reveal details of what happened as a coronial investigation continues.
“We really need to be mindful that we’ve got two families here who have lost children,” Acting Commander Mark Longman said.
“The coronial process is quite a matter of fact and clinical process, and I think we need to be mindful and allow them to grieve.”
The children and their families were among hundreds who had gathered on the foreshore between the Causeway and the Crown casino complex, in and around the playground.
While Burswood Park Playground is fenced off, parent groups say its three entry and exit gates don’t have locking latches, meaning children can open them by themselves.
Witnesses had described the mad rush in the moments after the children were discovered in the river, as people leapt into action to try to save them, pulling them from the water.
A woman, believed to be the mother of one of the children, reportedly fainted when she realised what had happened.
Eight ambulance crews attended and dozens of police officers swarmed the scene, helping to disperse the crowd.
Paramedics took over resuscitation attempts, and the boy and girl were rushed to Perth Children’s Hospital with critical care teams, but both died.
‘A moment can be the difference’
WA Royal Surf Life Saving Society CEO Peter Leaversuch also described it as a tragic incident and said his thoughts were with the children’s families who would have been “devastatingly impacted”.
Mr Leaversuch urged families to ensure children are supervised when near water.
“Sadly drowning happens very quickly, very silently, and the impact is just lifelong,” he said.
“Just turning away for a moment can be the difference.”
Five people have drowned in WA in the 2023-24 year so far, including the two children, as well as an 18-month-old boy who drowned in a backyard pool.
In the 2022-23 year, 31 people drowned in WA, only one of whom was a child.
There have been 34 drownings nationally so far this summer.
“It’s a real cause for alarm, a real call to action — I think more needs to be done to prevent drownings,” Mr Leaversuch said.
“The toll we’re experiencing so far … we’re seeing a lot of younger people involved, and that’s really concerning.”
Mr Leaversuch said it was important to ensure children had consistent access to swimming lessons.
“Kids should get 10 lessons for every year of primary school from year one through to year six,” he said.
“That should be for every kid no matter whether they’re in a public school or non-government school.”
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