Tragic reason a hero mum drowned with her young son in Melbourne’s Dandenong creek: ‘She would not leave her kids alone for a minute’

A hero mother desperately tried to save her young son after he reportedly fell off his scooter into a rain-swollen city creek before the pair both tragically drowned.

Fariba Hussainzada, 33, and her son Farzad, six, were on Allan Street, in Dandenong in Melbourne‘s south-east, about 3.45pm on Monday when the young boy fell into the surging creek.

Locals claimed the boy had been riding his scooter alongside his mum when he lost control at the bridge over the creek and plunged into water below.

The mother-of-three immediately jumped in to try to save her son, but the strong current dragged them both to their death.

Police were called to the scene and found the unconscious bodies of the mother and son still in the water where they had been swept downstream.

Officers performed CPR, but Ms Hussainzada and Farzad could not be revived. 

The pair are survived by Ms Hussainzada’s husband, Hamid, and the couple’s two younger children, a four-year-old son and a one-year-old daughter. 

A family friend told Daily Mail Australia Ms Hussainzada migrated to Australia with her family around ten years ago. 

Fariba Hussainzada, 33, is pictured with her husband Hamid

Ms Hussainzada died trying to rescue her young son, Farzad, six (pictured), on Monday

Her husband migrated to Australia a few years later, after completing a medical degree at Kabul Medical University. 

It is understood he does not practice medicine in Australia. 

The mother-of-three’s cousin Saleha Hussainzada told the Daily Mail that the family are being ‘well supported’ as they come to terms with the tragedy. 

She described her cousin as a ‘devoted mother whose caring nature, kindness and determination inspired everyone around her’.

‘She was a strong woman,’ she said.

‘She would not leave her kids alone for a minute, she was always looking after them, caring for them, especially her oldest son – the one that we lost.

‘Her love for her family and children was truly remarkable.’

Farzad was a student at Doveton College, which is about a ten-minute drive from the scene. 

The tragedy unfolded at Dandenong Creek, near Allan Street in Dandenong (pictured)

Emergency services are pictured at the scene on Monday

Locals say the creek was swollen after the area copped days of rain

It is understood school had finished for the day shortly before the tragedy unfolded.

Locals say Dandenong Creek had been overflowing after the area was inundated with rain in recent days. 

Witnesses said it was gut-wrenching to watch emergency services desperately work to save the mother and child as their relatives rushed to the scene and watched on.

‘The police tried so hard to save them, they really did,’ one woman wrote online.

‘Response was very fast but unfortunately too late.

‘Thoughts and prayers for the family who have lost their loved ones, emergency services, and all involved.

‘It was absolutely tragic watching this unfold right in front of you.’ 

Doveton College Principal Deb Gibson said the school extended its deepest condolences to the family, and that friends and students have been offered support. 

Farzad was the eldest of the couple’s three children

‘This is a distressing time for the school community,’ she said in a statement on Tuesday. 

‘Wellbeing support is available for the family and has been arranged for staff and students at the school.’

The Victorian Afghan Associations Network said they have been in contact with the family to offer their support. 

‘Our thoughts and prayers are with the Hussainzada family… It’s a tragedy for the entire community and we are all affected by it,’ the organisation said.

‘We thank all the emergency services who attended the incident yesterday and tried to revive the victims. 

‘We also thank many of the Victorian community members who have reached out today to offer support and condolences.

‘We urge all community members to be careful around water.’

Dandenong MP Gabrielle Williams said the incident was a ‘terrible tragedy’. 

‘Our hearts go out to the family impacted, and the local community who are grieving with them today,’ she said.

‘There are simply no words that can make sense of such a profound loss. 

‘A special thanks to our local emergency services and first responders, many of whom are volunteers. 

‘On our worst days, they turn up to help, often at great personal cost. We are so very grateful for their dedication to our community.’

A report will be prepared for the coroner.