Townsville brothers who died in the Ross River lost a relative in ‘exactly the same spot’ years ago

Years before a Townsville family lost their three and five-year-old boys, the same river that claimed them took another of their relatives.

WARNING: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are advised that the following story contains images of people who have died.

It’s been three days since brothers Jhulio and Barak were caught on a neighbour’s CCTV heading to their favourite Townsville park on the banks of the flood-ravaged Ross River after slipping away from their mother.

The brothers, aged three and five, would often play and swim at the riverside Cranbrook Park, just a short walk from their Brett St home.

But record flooding in Townsville last month had caused the banks of the Ross River to collapse, leaving them slippery and steep and the water full of vegetation and trees.

The young brothers weren’t used to the river being so unsafe and at some point on Monday afternoon, after passers-by spotted the boys having fun in the water, they somehow found themselves in trouble.

Just before 6am the next day, police officers found the brothers’ bodies in a deep, cutaway section of the Ross River, 12 hours after they were reported missing.

Detective Senior Sergeant Dave Miles later confirmed the brothers were found “only a couple of metres from each other”.

Jhulio and Barak died in the Ross River on Monday.

The heartbroken family is now fundraising to get the brothers back to country in Darwin, where they can be laid to rest.

“It is going to cost a few thousand dollars to get our babies back to their country where they were born,” family spokeswoman Professor Gracelyn Smallwood told reporters yesterday.

Prof Smallwood said the family were in “such a traumatic state” after the deaths of the two boys.

The heartbreak of losing the two boys was compounded after Prof Smallwood revealed it wasn’t the first time the family had been struck by a tragedy involving the Ross River.

Years ago, the family lost another relative, a seven-year-old boy, in the “exact same spot”.

“We’re hoping to have two crosses put up here on Sunday but also we lost another little relative, who comes from a traditional owner group here, and this family have asked if they could put a third cross up for the little darling that we lost some years ago in exactly the same spot,” Prof Smallwood said.

The community are asking the council to erect three little plaques and crosses and plant three trees as a memorial for the boys.

“The boys were happy little people, like all little five and three year old children … like all children. They were fearless and that’s how they want to be remembered. You could see how happy they were,” Prof Smallwood said.

“We’re hoping that this will never be forgotten … We’re just so grateful that both families have come together and also in solidarity with the mother of the little fella that was lost years ago.”

The brothers were caught on a neighbour’s CCTV walking to the park.

The tragedy of the brothers’ deaths resonated around the country but especially in the Townsville community.

More than 100 police, SES volunteers and local residents spent Monday night frantically searching Cranbrook for the two boys after their mother Leann Eatts called police about 5.30pm and reported them missing.

She reportedly ran down to the bridge at the river and was screaming for them just metres from where they were found the next morning.

The devastated mum took to Facebook a number of times throughout the search, begging people to “please help”.

“F**k me man my two babies have been missing since 5.45,” she wrote.

“I got eight police cars at my house and everyone on foot looking for them please keep a close eye out for them on the streets … They just walked off. Please help Townsville.”

At 1am on Tuesday, the mum said she was “so tired and empty”.

Fifteen minutes later, Ms Eatts asked for help again.

“If you live near a park or driving past it take time to have a look they will be cold hungry and tired now. Mum is missing you boys so so much,” she wrote.

Ms Eatts had learnt of their fate before the sun was up on Tuesday, describing the pain as feeling “like someone ripped a hole out of me”.

The boys’ mother Leeann Eatts is heartbroken.

Family member Joseph Austral has established a fundraiser to help take the boys’ bodies to Darwin.

“The boys are from Darwin and I would love to be able to help bring them home with the support and love of our community so we can bring the boys home without putting the family behind,” he wrote on the GoFundMe page.

By lunchtime on Wednesday, the page had raised more than $3250.

The family is planning to hold a smoking ceremony for the boys on Sunday to send their spirits safely back to the Dreamtime.

The family is also hoping to erect a memorial in the boys’ memory.

Police are continuing to talk to witnesses, before a report is prepared for the coroner.

“We have to look at all circumstances at this point before we make any determinations as to whether or not there’s anything we should be concerned about,” Sen-Sergeant Dave Miles said on Tuesday.

“It could be as innocent as harmless play that’s had tragic consequences.”

In a press conference on Tuesday, Superintendent Steve Munro said the boys’ death was another tragedy the north Queensland community would mourn.

“This has a significant impact on anyone in the community, we all sort of walk our own personal journeys but when you see two young lives lost in such tragic circumstances, it has an impact on us and it has an impact on us all,” Superintendent Munro said.

“In particular, our deepest condolences go to the family but also the broader community who are recovering from the recent flood events, it’s a tragic set of circumstances.

“We can’t thank everyone enough who got out of bed and helped … but unfortunately the outcome is not a very positive one for anybody.”