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In the hours before Helena Wright\u2019s body was pulled from the waters off South Australia\u2019s Limestone Coast, police received a call from her friend.<\/p>\n
The details of that call are not publicly known, but it was enough to prompt a welfare check at the 36-year-old\u2019s Compton home, on the outskirts of Mount Gambier.<\/p>\n
The call came at 9.28am on Monday, and when police knocked shortly after, no one answered the door. No one was home.<\/p>\n
Less than two hours later, reports from the public led police to find a vehicle parked on a clifftop at Cape Northumberland, near Port Macdonnell, a 30-minute drive from Wright\u2019s home.<\/p>\n
The vehicle was empty, but its engine was still running.<\/p>\n
Then, in the treacherous waters below South Australia\u2019s southernmost point, police and local fishermen found Wright\u2019s body, and the body of her 23-month-old daughter. Her three-month-old son could not be found.<\/p>\n
As emergency services, community members, friends and family grapple with the tragic deaths and what led to them, police have confirmed Wright had visited a police station the day before, they believe she took her life, and the lives of her two young children.<\/p>\n
\u201cSouth Australia Police can confirm Helena Wright attended the Mount Gambier Police Station on Sunday 26 July where she spoke with police,\u201d a police spokesperson confirmed to this masthead on Wednesday night.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs this matter is now subject to a coronial investigation, SAPOL will provide all relevant information and evidence to the coroner. It is not appropriate to comment further while coronial proceedings are underway.\u201d<\/p>\n
Volunteers battled the harsh weather conditions for days, trying to find the body of Wright\u2019s youngest child. On the water, on land and in the sky, help came from across the state and Victoria in the hopes of finding the baby. While Superintendent Trent Cox on Monday admitted it would be unlikely the infant would be found alive, he said he was holding out hope.<\/p>\n
![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/13744b1a3a96d28d501e038baaa08ce892c220bc.jpeg\")
The search near Port Macdonnell on South Australia\u2019s south-east coast.9News<\/p>\n
The last glimmer of that hope had faded when he again faced the waiting press pack on Wednesday, standing in the rain to announce the search would be unlikely to yield any positive result. Later, police confirmed they would cease searching altogether and, based on expert advice, declared the baby \u201ccould not have survived the period of time that has elapsed, either in the water or on land\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cAdditionally, a range of factors, including the search environment and prevailing weather conditions, significantly reduce the likelihood of locating the infant in the immediate term.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe reality is, after three days, the chances of finding the baby alive are zero, sadly,\u201d Cox said. \u201cIt\u2019s a retrieval effort, but we don\u2019t know where he is.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cox confirmed that, after days of investigation, the evidence police had gathered suggested no one else was believed to be involved in the deaths, and said the matter was now being handled as a murder-suicide.<\/p>\n
When asked if Wright had been turned away by police when she visited the Mount Gambier station on Sunday, and told to come back another day, Cox said he wouldn\u2019t \u201cconfirm anything or deny anything\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cAny contact with police will form part of the brief that we provide the coroner,\u201d he said. \u201cI\u2019m not aware of anything that I can release to you about the mother\u2019s mental state or her personal medical issues.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe investigation of any death is very delicate, but when it involves children as young as 23 months and three months, it adds another layer of complexity, but also trauma for those who are involved.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s delicate in a number of ways. Obviously, the welfare aspect for my staff and for our volunteers. Also recognising it\u2019s a local family.\u201d<\/p>\n
To those speculating on the tragedy without knowing the facts, Cox warned against adding to misinformed commentary.<\/p>\n
\u201cPublic commentary without the facts is always dangerous,\u201d he said. \u201cMisinformed commentary doesn\u2019t help anyone.\u201d<\/p>\n
To the wider community, who are struggling to come to terms with the circumstances of the deaths, Cox\u2019s message was clear: \u201cWrap your arms around each other.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cLook after yourselves, look after your loved ones,\u201d he said. \u201cGive your kids an extra tight hug.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt will affect the community whether they have children or not because the deaths of such young children and a mother in these circumstances is tragic on so many levels.\u201d<\/p>\n
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