Family reveals mother’s struggle with mental illness after she and two children die in tragic drowning in southwest Sydney

The father and husband of two young kids and a woman who drowned in southwest Sydney at the weekend says his wife had been struggling with mental illness.

Hoai Doan, 32, and her two children, Mitchell, 7, and Hazel, 5, were at a boat ramp on Floyd Bay in Lansvale on Saturday, when they ended up in the water.

WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Mum and two kids drown in Sydney river.

Witnesses saw the group in distress and contacted emergency services about 10.15am on Saturday.

Despite desperate attempts by rescuers and passersby to save the three, Hoai’s body was pulled from the river and unable to be revived.

The bodies of a girl, 5, and a boy, 7, were recovered from the water several hours later.

The children’s father, Dinh Nguyen, has since told The Sydney Morning Herald that Hoai was navigating a mental illness prior to her death.

“She has bipolar disorder, and she has some ups and some downs,” he told the masthead.

“She takes medicine. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t.”

Nguyen explained he had only learnt of the tragedy when he came home from work and police knocked on his door.

“She told me the last night she didn’t sleep so she wanted to stay at home,” he said.

As investigations into the tragedy continue, detectives are now probing whether the incident was premeditated, The Daily Telegraph reports.

Sources told the masthead that bystanders had allegedly come under attack when they tried to help the children out of the water.

Meanwhile, the southwest Sydney community continues to rally around the family’s loved ones.

Bouquets of flowers and various tributes were seen at the riverbank as part of a growing memorial.

Close friend of the family and the organiser of a GoFundMe page, Sarah Vu, has since posted a heartbreaking tribute to social media in the wake of the tragedy.

“I sincerely thank the entire community for their contributions,” she wrote on Monday.

“The family have decided to bring Hoai and the kids back to Vietnam.

“The fund has currently exceeded my expectations, but I will keep the link open for anyone who still wants to donate.”

Vu added she “doesn’t want to believe this is happening”.

“But all we can do now is pray for you and the little ones to depart peacefully,” she said.

The touching tribute was accompanied by a video of the two young kids holding hands and skipping down a street together.

Meanwhile, the fundraising page, set up to support the family, has raised over $45,600 in just a few days.

“I am reaching out to you during a time of unimaginable sorrow,” Vu wrote on the page.

“A beloved mother and her two young children tragically drowned today in Lansvale, leaving behind a profound void in our hearts and a father and baby who is only 1 year old.

“We hope to raise funds to aid the funeral and to assist the father to look after young Macario in this time of grief.”

A report will now be prepared for the coroner.

Anyone with relevant information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers.

7NEWS.com.au contacted NSW Police for an update on the investigation on Monday, however, were told at this stage “there are no updates and investigations are ongoing”.

If you need help in a crisis, call Lifeline on 13 11 14. For further information about depression contact beyondblue on 1300224636 or talk to your GP, local health professional or someone you trust.