Grieving parents of a five-year-old who died in flash flooding have spoken out and paid their son a heartbreaking tribute.
5-year-old Jayden El Jer was in his family’s UTE together with his two siblings and his father, Joseph El Jer, and mother, Pam Hadchity, when raging floodwater swept the vehicle off the road.
According to the reports, the Sydney-based family was on their road trip to Tullamore, NSW, when they were surprised by rising waters on Friday evening.
While driving through partially submerged roads, the family’s UTE was swept away by a strong current, forcing the family to abandon their vehicle in hopes of escaping with their lives.
Unfortunately, Jayden was unable to exit the car and the vehicle got submerged in floodwater.
When the rescuers arrived at the scene, all four surviving family members were rushed to the hospital for treatment.
Meanwhile, divers explored the surroundings and discovered the family’s submerged car with Jayden’s body inside.
The 5-year-old was rushed to the hospital but could not be saved.
Following the tragic incident, which comes just a day after Pam and Joseph shared a video showing them driving through partially flooded roads while the children were cheering in the back of the car, Jayden’s parents paid their son a touching tribute.
“You changed me into a father, something I only dreamt of. Now you and your siblings have made me complete,” Joseph said.
“You make me proud, glad, happy and I will always be your biggest fan love you so much,” Pam added.
According to the reports, the El Jer family is well known in Tullamore after visiting the small town several times a year.
“It’s absolutely devastating, things like this just don’t happen out here and everyone is just absolutely devastated for the family, everyone that went out there,” one local said in an interview with the Daily Telegraph.
“It’s horrible, absolutely horrible. You just can’t explain how the family must feel, it’s obviously a mistake, a split second decision that’s gone terribly wrong.”
Our thoughts are with Jayden’s family during this challenging time.
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