Tragic new details have emerged following the alleged suffocation of two young brothers at their grandmother’s home – with one of them fighting cancer since birth.
Emergency services rushed to the property in Coonabarabran, in central-west NSW, at 2pm on Monday.
The 66-year-old grandmother had called the Department of Communities and Justice at about 1.30pm to say her grandsons, aged six and seven, were dead and she needed help.
The Sydney Morning Herald reported that the grandmother attempted to commit suicide when police arrived.
She was arrested at the scene and taken to a local hospital for assessment, where she spent the night under police guard.
Police told media it appeared the boys had been suffocated.
The grandmother is expected to be charged with the kids’ murder.
The six-year-old boy had been battling cancer since birth, The Daily Telegraph reports.
Tragic new details have emerged following the alleged suffocation of two young brothers at their grandmother’s home – with one of them fighting cancer since birth
Emergency services rushed to a property in Coonabarabran, in central-west NSW, at 2pm on Monday over an urgent concern for welfare check
Peter, a local karate instructor, said the boys used to attend his classes accompanied by their grandmother, who often assisted during the sessions.
‘To be honest, when I found out what had happened yesterday, I was amazed,’ he told The Daily Telegraph.
‘Their grandmother would come along to class with them and help out. She was so willing to get in here and hold the bags, with all the different kids kicking the bags and stuff, she didn’t shirk it.
A post mortem will be carried out today.
NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb described the deaths as a ‘terrible, terrible tragedy’.
‘This is a truly horrific tragedy involving children so young,’ Commissioner Webb said.
‘Our hearts go out to the family of these boys, and to the entire community who will be devastated by what has happened today.’
Commissioner Webb said resources would be made available to help local police, first responders, the distraught family and the wider community.
The property where the boys were living
Coonabarabran is a small rural town, which has a population of less than 3,500 people.
She added the State Crime Command has also sent detectives from Sydney’s homicide squad to assist local police in the investigation.
Coonabarabran is a small rural town, which has a population of less than 3,500 people.
Heartbreaking tributes for the brothers have been shared on social media as the tight-knit community woke to the tragic news.
‘Two little firecracker kids,’ one relative wrote.
‘They were amongst it all, 100 miles an hour, involved in soccer, karate, wild as march hares and cute as buttons!
‘So devastating for all. It makes me sick to think how their last minutes were spent.’
NSW Premier Chris Minns described the day as ‘terrible’, claiming the whole state would share in the community’s grief.
‘What has occurred is terrible and as a state we share in the community of Coonabarabran’s grief at the loss of two young boys who had their entire futures ahead of them,’ Premier Minns said.
‘I can not begin to imagine the heartbreak their loved ones are currently feeling, including their family, friends, and teachers.
‘I thank the local officers who attended the scene for their professionalism and bravery in the face of such a horrible event.’
Strike Force Darnum has been set up to investigate the tragedy.
