The bodies of two children reported missing in Townsville yesterday afternoon have been found, Queensland Police have confirmed.
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Authorities state the 3-year-old and 5-year-old brothers were found deceased in the Ross River near Cranbrook Park around 6am this morning.
The tragic discovery comes after the pair were reported missing in Cranbrook around 5:30pm yesterday, sparking a widespread search effort across the region throughout the night.
Townsville Police Senior Sergeant Ian Wilkie said the heartbreaking discovery was made in what was a regular play area for the boys.
“At this stage it’s just a tragic incident,” Sergeant Wilkie told Sunrise.
“They looked like they were having fun and it’s turned to tragedy.”
He extended his condolences to the family, saying “this wasn’t the news we hoped for, and we’ll do our best to support them.”
Sergeant Wilkie said steep banks and weed coverage at that portion of the Ross River would form part of the police report to the coroner.
Discussing the community effort to locate the boys, Member for Townsville Scott Stewart told the ABC “we band together, we look after one another, and this is where we stand strong together and this is where we rely on the community to get us through these tough times”.
