Bodies of man and woman found near abandoned car at Wentworthville

Police have described the discovery of bodies suspected to be a mother and son in a Wentworthville stormwater canal as a tragedy. They were found a kilometre from an abandoned car.

Two bodies have been found in Sydney’s west near where a car was discovered abandoned in a stormwater canal.

Police found the bodies of a man and woman on Tuesday morning after putting out the call for information on the whereabouts of Hemalathasolhyr Satchithanantham and her adult son, Bramooth.

A white Mazda appears to have lost control on Cumberland Highway and crashed through a fence along the waterway before landing in the stormwater drain on Monday afternoon.

A large section of the fence is missing where it is believed the car careened down the steep concrete wall into the fast flowing water.

About 8.20am on Tuesday, a woman’s body was found in the creek near Hopkins St at Constitution Hill — 1.4km from the crash — and the man’s body was found 900m from the initial site.

The bodies are yet to be identified but sources believe the pair is the missing mother, 67, and her 34-year-old son.

An abandoned car in the canal. Picture: David Meddows

Hemalathasolhyr Satchithanantham.

Bramooth Satchithanantham.

Cumberland commander Detective Superintendent Paul Devaney said the Satchithananthams’ Mazda 3 was found submerged in the Coopers Creek Canal where it crashed into on Monday afternoon.

Police are yet to determine when the car was washed down the culvert. “We have had a number of witnesses come forward,’’ Det-Supt Paul Devaney said.

“However it’s in the infancy of the investigation and we’re yet to determine an actual time of the incident.’’

Police held concerns for the pair’s safety given where the car was found and because Bramooth is non-verbal.

“Clearly the current weather conditions impacted the canal where the vehicle was located,’’ Det-Supt Devaney said.

“It rose this morning from ankle-deep to above neck high in a matter of minutes with the downfall so I’m sure the weather conditions had significantly played a part.

The weather hampered the recovery, prompting Cumberland officers to enlist the help of divers, the police rescue squad, divers, PolAir and Parramatta police.

The Satchithananthams are from Wentworthville.

“It’s a tragedy and it’s a tragedy for everyone involved,’’ Det-Supt Devaney said.
“My heart goes out to the family and to the community. This is a mother, who we suspect is a mother, and a son. The mother was devoted to her 34-year-old son. It’s just a tragedy for all involved.’’

Police blocked off one lane of the Cumberland Highway between Dunmore St and Wentworth Ave, with crash investigation unit officers and forensics teams arriving on site.

Constant rain is hampering the efforts of emergency services.

Police rescue was desperately trying to organise a crane to remove the vehicle before expected heavy rain returned.

The car was towed shortly after 4.30pm and floral tributes were left adorning the bridge over the creek near where the pair was washed away.

The stormwater drain was flowing fast and authorities feared the car might be dislodged if the rain continued and the creek became even more treacherous.

The car shortly before it was towed on the Cumberland Highway at Wentworthville.

The car was lodged just south of a rail bridge over the Cumberland Highway.

Det-Supt Paul Devaney urged drivers to only travel if it was necessary. “This is a timely and tragic reminder that we need to limit non-essential travel during these current weather conditions,’’ he said.

“Please don’t put yourselves at risk, don’t put police and emergency services at risk. If it’s flooded, please don’t go through the water. If you must travel turn your headlights on, slow down and drive to the conditions.’’

Floral tributes at Dunmore St, Wentworthville a day after the fatality.

SES Commissioner Carlene York urged Sydney residents to stay safe during wet weather today due to forecast flooding across the city.

“It shows the danger of these storms, the dangers of the flooding and the flash flooding that occurs,” Comm York said.