Couple tells of crippling PTSD and suicidal thoughts after death of kids in MH17 tragedy

The parents of Mo, Evie and Otis have spoken for the first time about losing their three children when MH17 was shot down by a missile, revealing the birth of their daughter eased suicidal thoughts.

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Anthony Maslin and Rin Norris have told how a new baby helped them live again after they lost three children in the MH17 plane crash.

Mo, 12, Evie, 10, Otis, eight, were killed when the Malaysia Airlines plane was shot down by a missile over the Ukraine five years ago.

Their home in Scarborough, Perth was a reminder of their loss and finally after three tries, the couple made it through the front door with the help of family and friends who drew up a six-month roster after the tragedy to make sure they were not alone.

“Life with three kids was so full,” said make-up artist Rin.

“We were always rushed. When the world ended. There’s nothing to do.

“The feeling of that horror is just this, ‘Oh, God, how do I get through this day?

“Where we were was hell.

“Our world as we knew it was absolutely over in that moment and we just started to say, ‘when the world ended’ and that’s how we refer to it now.”

Anthony Maslin and his wife Martina (Rin) revealed the pain they suffered on ABC’s Australian Story after the death of their kids.

Mo, 12, Evie, 10, Otis, eight were killed after a missile shot down the Malaysian Airlines plane they were on.

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In an interview with ABC’s Australian Story, the couple tell for the first time how they struggle with crippling bouts of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and how the birth of their daughter Violet three years ago has alleviated thoughts of suicide.

Violet May Maslin was born on May 10, 2016, three days after Mo’s 14th birthday and four days before Evie’s 12th.

“When I found out I was pregnant, I was obviously happy but also worried because I’d known how to parent three children, but parenting one little one who would live in the shadow of this tragedy was a pretty daunting task,” Rin says.

Mrs Maslin, nee Norris adds: “I’ll never forget holding her in my arms and feeling just a tiny little moment of peace that I hadn’t felt for so long.

The birth of their daughter Violet helped alleviate some of the pain

“I think that the kids sent Violet to bring that to us.

“Everything we do is about the kids being proud of us and the kids looking down from where they are and saying ‘go mum and dad that’s awesome.”

Maz says becoming a father for the fourth time is a blessing and given him renewed hope as he changed direction from stock broker to investor in sustainability-focused start-ups.

“I’m a father of four beautiful children, and that’s a lucky guy in anyone’s language,” he says.

“You might not be able to see three of them but that doesn't mean they’re not here — they’re right here,” he says tapping his heart.

Mrs Maslin believes her three kids bough Violet to her.

The couple have been piecing together their lives since July 17, 2014, when the MH17 the children were travelling in was shot down as it flew over eastern Ukraine on its way from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur.

They were returning home to Perth for school with their grandfather, school headmaster Nick Norris, 68, while their parents stayed behind in the Netherlands for business.

An international investigation found the plane was brought down by a Russian-made Buk surface-to-air missile, believed to have been fired by pro-Russia separatists.

All 298 people, including 38 Australian residents and citizens, were killed in the MH17 crash. Picture: AFP Photo/Alexander Khudoteply

All 298 people on board were killed, including 38 Australian residents and citizens.

The children’s parents, as well as Mr Norris's wife, Lindy, are understood to have settled a lawsuit with the airline over the incident.

Malaysia Airlines and Colin Biggers & Paisley, the law firm which filed the lawsuit against the airline, confirmed the matter had been resolved last year.

“We can confirm that we have reached an amicable and confidential settlement with the Maslin family and therefore the suit has been withdrawn,” senior executive with Malaysia Airlines, Norshafiza Zulkifli, said a statement.

“We will not however disclose any further details on this suit or about the details of the settlement in respect to the privacy of the family,” he added.

The statement also said the settlement was not "an admission of liability or guilt".

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