Girl’s body found in Parramatta River after father’s death

The search for a missing girl in Sydney’s inner west ended in tragedy when police divers recovered her body from the Parramatta River around 5.30pm. Her father’s body had been discovered hours earlier near their drifting hire boat off Bayview Park, Concord. Both have yet to be formally identified, but police believe they were from Westmead and the girl was the couple’s only child. Australian Associated Press + 2

Police have recovered the body of a young girl from a Sydney river.Australian Associated Press

A community shaken by a double tragedy

NSW Police Superintendent Christine McDonald described the deaths as “an absolute tragedy for the family and the community on every level.” The girl’s mother has been notified and is receiving support from officers. The man who assisted police by allowing them to use his boat to reach the drifting vessel was commended for his courage and quick action. ABC News Sydney + 1

How the search unfolded

Emergency services were called just before 11.45am after reports of a man floating in the river. Officers boarded a member of the public’s vessel to retrieve the man and attempted CPR without success. Specialist resources, including marine, aerial, and dive teams, scoured the river before locating the child’s body later in the day. Australian Associated Press + 2

Investigators probe possible causes

Police are investigating whether the deaths were accidental, deliberate, or related to domestic violence, with a forensic search of the hire boat planned. A friend of the man had contacted police about an hour after his body was found, expressing concern for both him and the child. Authorities confirmed the man was not known to police and there were no existing apprehended violence orders. Australian Associated Press + 2