Police are investigating an incident in Sydney's Parramatta River on Saturday, June 13, 2026, in which a 47-year-old man and his six-year-old daughter died. Authorities recovered the bodies of Maulik Dhandhukia and his daughter from the water near Bayview Park in Concord.
"An absolute tragedy for the family and the community on every level." — Superintendent Christine McDonald
Incident Timeline
Shortly before 11:45 AM on Saturday, emergency services received a report of a man's body in the water at Hen and Chicken Bay, near Abbotsford. Witnesses reported that the man had been seen in a small boat with a young girl earlier that morning.
According to police, Mr. Dhandhukia and his daughter arrived at Cabarita Point Marina via Uber around 10:00 AM. He had rented a runabout boat from the marina multiple times in the week leading up to the incident, including once with his wife.
A member of the public used their own boat to assist police from the Burwood Police Area Command in reaching the hired vessel. The man's body was recovered shortly before midday. Police divers located the girl's body on the riverbed after a search lasting nearly seven hours.
CCTV footage from a waterfront property captured the man throwing his daughter overboard and then entering the water himself. Police stated that neither the man nor the child could swim. A suicide note was found on the boat.
Investigation
Detectives from the Burwood Police Area Command, with assistance from the homicide squad, are investigating the incident. Superintendent Christine McDonald confirmed that domestic violence is a line of inquiry.
A report will be prepared for the coroner.
Police stated that the man was not previously known to them and had no recorded history of domestic violence. The boat is being forensically examined.
The girl's mother, Pritiben Dhandhukia, has provided a statement to detectives and is not accused of any wrongdoing. Police received a separate call approximately an hour after the incident from a friend of the man who expressed concern for their welfare.
Funeral
A joint funeral was held on Friday at Castlebrook Crematorium in Rouse Hill. Open caskets were placed side by side. A speaker at the service described the deceased as "two kind and gentle souls who will forever remain in our hearts."
Related Context
This incident occurred less than a month after a separate case in western Sydney in which a man allegedly killed his wife and two sons. That man also had no known history of domestic violence.
Statements
Superintendent Christine McDonald described the event as "an absolute tragedy for the family and the community on every level."