A grandmother who was arrested for the alleged murder of her two grandsons made a frantic call to authorities to say the young boys were dead.
Emergency services rushed to the property in Coonabarabran, in central-west NSW, at 2pm on Monday.
A 66-year-old grandmother had called the Department of Communities and Justice around 1.30pm to say her grandsons, aged six and seven, were dead and she needed help.
Department staff contacted police who rushed to the home on Emu Lane and found the bodies of the boys.
Paramedics tried to revive them but they were pronounced dead at the scene.
It is not known if the family was known to the department or to police.
The grandmother was taken to hospital for further assessment where she remains under police guard and she is expected to be charged with the children’s murder.
It is understood police will allege the boys were smothered to death, news.com.au reported.
A crime scene was established at the home on Monday evening.
‘Enquiries are ongoing,’ a NSW Police spokeswoman said.
‘There is no ongoing threat to the community. Police are not looking for anyone else.’
NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb described the deaths as a ‘terrible, terrible tragedy’.
‘This is a truly horrific tragedy involving children so young,’ Commissioner Webb said.
‘Our hearts go out to the family of these boys, and to the entire community who will be devastated by what has happened today.’
Commissioner Webb said resources would be made available to help local police, first responders, the distraught family and the wider community.
She added the State Crime Command has also sent detectives from Sydney’s homicide squad to assist local police in the investigation.
Coonabarabran is a small rural town, which has a population of less than 3,500 people – including the surrounding suburbs.
Heartbreaking tributes for the little boys’ have been shared on social media as the tight-knit community woke to the tragic news.
‘Two little firecracker kids,’ one relative wrote.
‘They were amongst it all, 100 miles an hour, involved in soccer, karate, wild as march hares and cute as buttons!
‘So devastating for all. It makes me sick to think how their last minutes were spent.’
NSW Premier Chris Minns described the day as ‘terrible’, claiming the whole state would share in the community’s grief.
‘What has occurred is terrible and as a state we share in the community of Coonabarabran’s grief at the loss of two young boys who had their entire futures ahead of them,’ Premier Minns said.
‘I can not begin to imagine the heartbreak their loved ones are currently feeling, including their family, friends, and teachers.
‘I thank the local officers who attended the scene for their professionalism and bravery in the face of such a horrible event.’
Strike Force Darnum has been set up to investigate the tragedy, with officers working to piece together the final moments before the two young boys were allegedly killed.