Mom of 3 and Her 6-Year-Old Son Identified as Victims Who Drowned in Creek: 'She Sacrificed Herself for Her Son'

A mother and her young son have been identified as the victims who drowned after being swept away in a creek in Australia.

Fariba Hussainzada, 33, drowned along with her 6-year-old son Farzad as she tried to save him after he fell into Dandenong Creek in Melbourne on Monday, Nov. 10, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) reported.

“She sacrificed herself for her son,” Fariba’s cousin, Saleha Hussainzada, told the outlet. Fariba is survived by her two younger children, a 4-year-old son and a 1-year-old daughter, per ABC.

Saleha went on to describe her cousin as a “very caring mother” and someone who was “full of energy and loving.”

In a news release shared on Monday, Victoria Police said that two people believed to be a 33-year-old woman and a 7-year-old boy from Doveton were swept away in the creek at around 3:45 p.m. local time. The pair were pulled from the water unconscious and police began CPR but they were both pronounced dead at the scene.

“A woman and child have drowned after falling into a waterway in Dandenong this afternoon. A witness reported two people had been swept away after falling into Dandenong Creek,” the police said. “It’s believed the woman went to the aid of the child and also got into difficulty.”

“Police conducted a search of the area and located the unconscious pair, pulling them from the water and starting CPR. Despite the best efforts of emergency services, they were unable to be revived,” the release added.

The Victoria Police did not disclose details of the victims’ identities when contacted by PEOPLE.

Local resident Natalie Cartechini saw police on the embankment beside the creek.

“They must have just pulled the little child out and they were desperately trying to revive him,” she told ABC. “They didn’t give up. They kept trying so hard, they really did.”

She added of the coroner arriving, “That was quite traumatizing thinking that right in front of your doorstep two people have passed away through no fault of their own.”

Fariba was originally from Afghanistan and had lived in Australia for 10 years. Her son Farzad was a student at Doveton College in Melbourne, according to the outlet.

Doveton College Principal Deb Gibson said in a statement to the outlet that the school is “deeply saddened by the sudden death of a student and one of their parents.

“This is a distressing time for the school community. Wellbeing support is available for the family and has been arranged for staff and students at the school,” Gibson said.

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Police are urging anyone who witnessed the incident or has information to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or visit www.crimestoppersvic.com.au.

PEOPLE has reached out to Doveton College for comment.