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1 year ago
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A man has been charged over the tragic death of a five-year-old boy who drowned when their vehicle was swept away in floodwaters.
Joseph El Jer and Pam Hadchity were on a 445km road trip from Granville, Sydney, to to visit the Dubbo Zoo with three children on September 23 last year.
The Toyota Hilux was hit by a raging torrent of water at Tullamore, north-west of Parkes, as intense rainfall pummeled Australia's east coast.
El Jer, Hadchity, and two of the three children were able to free themselves from the 4WD and desperately clung onto trees while emergency services worked to rescue them.
Police divers found the five-year-old boy's body inside the submerged vehicle and he was driven to Parkes Hospital but could not be saved.
El Jer, who was behind the wheel, was charged with with manslaughter, dangerous driving occasioning death-drive manner dangerous and negligent driving occasioning death on on Thursday after being arrested at Surry Hills Police Station.
Joseph El Jer (left), 38, was on Thursday charged with a slew of offences including manslaughter (pictured right is Mr El Jer's partner Pam Hadchity)
He was refused bail to appear at Downing Centre Local Court where he was remanded in custody to re-appear on Thursday 18 January 2024.
A second vehicle had also entered the flooded crossing and submerged about two hours later, with the occupants managing to free themselves from the car before finding the passengers of the Hilux still clinging to trees.
A boat was used to rescue the family where they were all taken to Dubbo Base Hospital for observation, while those of the second vehicle luckily escaped without injury.
Photos of the rescue operation show the terrifying moments the family were saved by emergency services.
On the day before the tragedy, the parents shared videos of their family road trip through the countryside.
The boy who tragically drowned had celebrated his fifth birthday in March 2022, with photos showing the little boy beaming with his face covered in icing from his dinosaur-themed cake.
Heartbreaking videos on the family's TikTok page showed the boy playing with his siblings and dancing.
Pam Hadchit (pictured being carried from floodwaters by volunteers) was found alongside her partner and two children
The boy's parents and two younger siblings were rescued SES workers and taken to Dubbo Hospital (pictured, the family being lifted out of the rescue boat)
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