The grief-stricken family of two boys who were found dead inside their Blue Mountains home have shared details of their heartbreak.
The boy’s father Nick Smith found his two sons, Russell, 11, and his younger brother Ben, 9, inside the Faulconbridge house just before 1pm on Tuesday.
The boys’ mother Trish Smith, 42, was arrested and spent Tuesday night under police guard in hospital, where she arrived in a stable condition.
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Nick said the loss of their “beautiful boys” had caused “unimaginable pain and distress”.
“Russell and Ben were happy, funny, outgoing boys, and were very much loved by their family and friends,” he said in a statement on Thursday.
“Like other boys their age, they loved sports, soccer, the Penrith Panthers, fishing, books, music, spending time with their friends and Max their pup.
“We cannot understand how our boys have been taken this way and we appreciate the kindness and compassion shown by the community.”
Nick added they were requesting privacy at this time.
Meanwhile, investigators have declined to speculate on what occurred before the brothers died but said they are not looking for any other parties.
Since the tragedy, bouquets of flowers, teddy bears and toy cars have been placed outside the family’s home.
Tributes to the boys were propped against the fence as a photo of the smiling, dark-haired siblings was publicly released by their family.
The mother’s personal Facebook page is filled with photos of her and the children smiling together, showing them on frequent bushwalks and beach visits.
The Catholic Schools Parramatta Diocese shared a statement with the grieving community on Wednesday.
“Our Catholic schools community is devastated by the tragic deaths of Ben and Russell, two students of Our Lady of the Nativity Primary School in Lawson,” they said.
“Counselling and wellbeing support is available to students and staff at Our Lady of the Nativity today and will continue to be provided in the coming weeks.
“The care and kindness of the broader Blue Mountains community at this difficult time is much appreciated.”
NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb went to the local police station on Tuesday to support to her officers, noting that many had children the same age as the boys.
Clinicians and support officers were on hand for police, while the boys’ father was also receiving support.
“The older and more experienced you get in this job, things like this still cut to the core,” Webb said.
“It’s a tragic situation and certainly … more will be known as the investigation unfolds.”
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