Gumleaf
November 18th, 2008, 07:11 PM
09:00 AEST Wed Nov 19 2008
A pram was seen bobbing in dark, choppy waters after a father plunged from a wharf on the NSW south coast in a futile bid to save his baby and young son.
The 28-year-old man and his two young sons, aged 15 months and four years, drowned after they fell five metres into the water from Tathra Wharf, at Tathra, near Bega, just after 8pm (AEDT) on Tuesday.
Another man who tried to rescue the three, survived, police said.
The father was fishing from the wharf with his baby in the pram when it tumbled into the water with the other child holding onto it, a Tathra surf lifesaver told Sydney's Daily Telegraph.
The father quickly dived in to try to save his children.
A 37-year-old local fisherman heard the man's cries for help and immediately jumped into the water to help, while his female partner ran for help, police said.
The alarm was raised and surf lifesavers, police and paramedics arrived to pull all four from the water.
The father, who was unconscious, could not be revived and was pronounced dead at the scene.
His two boys, also unconscious, were taken by ambulance to Bega Hospital in critical condition but were pronounced dead a short time later.
No information was available on the boys' mother.
The fisherman remained conscious even though he spent a long time in the water, a spokeswoman for Greater Southern Area Health Service told AAP.
He was taken to Bega Hospital for treatment but was discharged about 12.30am on Wednesday.
He was in a "stable, satisfactory condition", the spokeswoman said, with a few superficial injuries including some scratches.
Bystanders saw a pram in the water as the tragedy unfolded, a NSW ambulance spokesman said.
"Police are conducting inquiries at the scene in a bid to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident. However, at this stage it's not being treated as suspicious," a NSW police statement said.
A report is being prepared for the coroner.
Anyone who witnessed the incident and has not already spoken with police is urged to contact Batemans Bay Police Station or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
A pram was seen bobbing in dark, choppy waters after a father plunged from a wharf on the NSW south coast in a futile bid to save his baby and young son.
The 28-year-old man and his two young sons, aged 15 months and four years, drowned after they fell five metres into the water from Tathra Wharf, at Tathra, near Bega, just after 8pm (AEDT) on Tuesday.
Another man who tried to rescue the three, survived, police said.
The father was fishing from the wharf with his baby in the pram when it tumbled into the water with the other child holding onto it, a Tathra surf lifesaver told Sydney's Daily Telegraph.
The father quickly dived in to try to save his children.
A 37-year-old local fisherman heard the man's cries for help and immediately jumped into the water to help, while his female partner ran for help, police said.
The alarm was raised and surf lifesavers, police and paramedics arrived to pull all four from the water.
The father, who was unconscious, could not be revived and was pronounced dead at the scene.
His two boys, also unconscious, were taken by ambulance to Bega Hospital in critical condition but were pronounced dead a short time later.
No information was available on the boys' mother.
The fisherman remained conscious even though he spent a long time in the water, a spokeswoman for Greater Southern Area Health Service told AAP.
He was taken to Bega Hospital for treatment but was discharged about 12.30am on Wednesday.
He was in a "stable, satisfactory condition", the spokeswoman said, with a few superficial injuries including some scratches.
Bystanders saw a pram in the water as the tragedy unfolded, a NSW ambulance spokesman said.
"Police are conducting inquiries at the scene in a bid to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident. However, at this stage it's not being treated as suspicious," a NSW police statement said.
A report is being prepared for the coroner.
Anyone who witnessed the incident and has not already spoken with police is urged to contact Batemans Bay Police Station or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.