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You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2016/jan/04/man-two-children-found-dead-car-drove-off-wharf-port-lincoln
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Man and his two children found dead in car that drove off wharf at Port Lincoln | Man and his two children found dead in car that drove off wharf at Port Lincoln |
(about 20 hours later) | |
A man and his two small children are dead after he drove off a wharf in Port Lincoln on South Australia’s Eyre Peninsula. | |
The three victims have been confirmed as locals and police say the car was deliberately driven off Brennen Wharf. | |
Witnesses reported seeing the white station wagon plunge at speed into water 30 metres deep early on Monday morning. | |
The entrance to the wharf is gated but it was unclear whether or not the gates were open. | |
The bodies, the car and a rifle were recovered by police divers about six hours later. | |
The car involved in the Port Lincoln tragedy has been retrieved from the water off Brennan's Wharf. #9News pic.twitter.com/PcoALGsGyO | The car involved in the Port Lincoln tragedy has been retrieved from the water off Brennan's Wharf. #9News pic.twitter.com/PcoALGsGyO |
Detective Superintendent Paul Yeomans said it was a heartbreaking incident. | |
“It’s a small community. It’ll be a situation where somebody will know somebody will know somebody and no doubt this will affect a lot of people living in Port Lincoln,” he told reporters. | |
“You’ve got some relatives who have lost relatives.” | |
#BREAKING: Police have pulled a rifle from the water, near where a car plunged off a Port Lincoln wharf. #9Newscomau pic.twitter.com/ZCQGSYvBih | #BREAKING: Police have pulled a rifle from the water, near where a car plunged off a Port Lincoln wharf. #9Newscomau pic.twitter.com/ZCQGSYvBih |
Mayor Bruce Green said he felt “empty” after hearing the news. | |
“You’re just dumbfounded as to why these things can happen,” he said. | |
“You don’t have any power in solving what’s just happened or changing what’s just happened. So you just feel a little empty.” | |
Hundreds of tributes have been left to the children on social media. | |
“So tragic – dear little souls. Thoughts are with the families,” one woman wrote on Facebook. | |
“How could anyone do this? They were only children who didn’t have a choice. You never hurt your family. Heartbreaking,” another said. | |
Supt Yeomans said the incident was challenging for everyone involved, including the police divers who had recovered the bodies. | |
“But my heart certainly goes out for the relatives,” he said. | |
• Readers seeking support and information about suicide prevention can contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or MensLine Australia 1300 78 99 78 |