SCHOOLMATES of five-year-old Jayden El Jer who drowned while holidaying in the state’s Central West, have been offered counselling as the Granville family grieves over the heartbreaking tragedy.
The boy’s body was recovered a day after the vehicle in which he and his family was travelling in, was swept into flood waters last Friday night.
Four other occupants of the Hilux – a 37-year-old man, a 28-year-old woman, along with a young boy and girl – got out and were found clinging to trees, however, Jayden became trapped in the car before it submerged.
About three hours later, a second vehicle entered the flooded crossing and submerged. The occupants managed to free themselves from the car before finding the occupants of the Hilux clinging to trees, before alerting emergency services.
The family was rescued by boat and taken to hospital for observation, while the occupants of the second vehicle weren’t injured.
The car was retrieved and an investigation into the incident is underway, with a report to be prepared for the Coroner.
Students at Christ the King Primary School in North Rocks, where the kindergarten student was enrolled at the beginning of this year, have been offered counselling, with Principal Tony Hughes saying “the entire community will be deeply affected by this tragic loss of our friend and classmate, Jayden”.
Boy drowns tragedy
A FIVE-YEAR-OLD boy has tragically drowned after the vehicle he and his Granville family were travelling in was washed away in flood waters in the state’s Central West.