Mom of 3 and Her 6-Year-Old Son Identified as Victims Who Drowned in Creek: ‘She Sacrificed Herself for Her Son’

A mother and her young son have been identified as the victims who drowned after being swept away in a Melbourne waterway earlier this month.

Fariba Hussainzada, 33, died alongside her 6-year-old son Farzad after attempting to rescue him when he fell into Dandenong Creek on Monday, Nov. 10, according to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC).

“She sacrificed herself for her son,” Fariba’s cousin, Saleha Hussainzada, told the outlet. Fariba leaves behind two younger children — a 4-year-old boy and a 1-year-old girl, ABC reported.

Saleha described her cousin as a “very caring mother” who was “full of energy and loving.”

According to a news release issued Monday, Victoria Police said a woman believed to be 33 and a boy believed to be 7 from Doveton were swept away in the creek around 3:45 p.m. local time. They were pulled from the water unconscious, and despite immediate CPR efforts, both were pronounced dead at the scene.

“A woman and child have drowned after falling into a waterway in Dandenong this afternoon. A witness reported two people had been swept away after falling into Dandenong Creek,” the police statement read. “It’s believed the woman went to the aid of the child and also got into difficulty.”

Police added that officers searched the area, located the pair, pulled them from the water, and attempted resuscitation, but they could not be revived.

Local resident Natalie Cartechini told ABC she saw police working urgently along the creek embankment.

“They must have just pulled the little child out and they were desperately trying to revive him,” she said. “They didn’t give up. They kept trying so hard, they really did.”

She added that seeing the coroner arrive was “quite traumatizing,” noting the heartbreak of losing “two people… through no fault of their own.”

Fariba, originally from Afghanistan, had lived in Australia for a decade. Her son Farzad was a student at Doveton College.

In a statement to ABC, Doveton College Principal Deb Gibson said the school is “deeply saddened by the sudden death of a student and one of their parents.”

“This is a distressing time for the school community. Wellbeing support is available for the family and has been arranged for staff and students at the school,” Gibson added.

Police are asking anyone with information or who witnessed the incident to contact Crime Stoppers at 1800 333 000 or visit www.crimestoppersvic.com.au.