Stephanie King’s family tell of their pride at her efforts to save Ella-Jane and Jacob from drowning

THE family of Stephanie King have broken their silence about the tragedy in which she and two of her children drowned, as authorities reveal the road they died on was open, despite flood conditions.

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THE devastated family of Stephanie King have broken their silence about the tragedy in which she and two of her children drowned, as local authorities reveal the road they died on was open, despite dangerous flood conditions.

Ms King, 43, died alongside two of her three children, Ella-Jane, 11, and Jacob, 7, when their van plunged off muddy Dulguigan Rd in Tumbulgum on Monday and crashed into the river.

Her other child, Chloe-May, 8, was able to escape from the vehicle.

Stephanie King was found holding one of her children. Picture: Facebook

Tweed Council has since confirmed the road on which Ms King slid off into the Tweed River killing her and two of her children was open and had not been closed because of the recent floods.

“I can confirm that Council has today spoken with Police and provided a statement to them. This statement confirmed that Dulguigan Rd was open and trafficable at the time of the accident, however like many of the roads in the Tweed following the floods, was subject to mud and debris.” Tweed Shire mayor Katie Milne said.

“There has been much speculation about the status of the road, and I wanted to provide the family and friends with certainty and clarification that Ms King was not travelling on a closed road.

“There were surrounding road closures at the broader ends of these connecting roads, including Terranora Rd at the Bilambil Rd intersection until Monday, and Terranora Rd was closed north of the Tumbulgum bridge on Thursday. Signage at Dulguigan Rd was placed by Council, at police request, following the accident.”

She said signs indicating the road had been closed were placed after the accident at the request of police.

Tumbulgum pastor Rob Stuttle yesterday made a statement on behalf of Chloe-May’s father Matthew Kabealo and the young girl.

“They have asked me to convey that the family are heartbroken and devastated at the great loss of Stephanie, Ella-Jane and Jacob,” Pastor Stuttle said. “It’s a tragedy.”

Tumbulgum's Living Waters Church Pastor Rob Stuttle addresses the media on behalf of the King family. Picture: Scott Powick/Daily News

Mr Stuttle said the family was incredibly “proud” of Ms King for how she put her children first, after it emerged she tried to save them and police found her cradling one of the children in the submerged vehicle.

“I believe that (Chloe-May) was able to release the seatbelt and swim out of the car,” he said.

“They are all so proud of her (Ms King). It’s come out that she was trying to look out for the children’s lives before her own ... that only confirmed what we already knew as a community, what type of person she is.”

Ms King’s friends and family are adamant Dulguigan Rd was not closed when she drove along it.

And Tweed Shire councillor Pryce Allsop said he would be “very surprised” if the road had been closed because as it was 12km long with 15 exit points it would have been almost impossible.

He said if someone did manage to put a sign up they were a “bloody genius” as access was so difficult.

Tweed Shire Council declined to comment.