Tragedy by WA Kondinin: Children who lost both parents in horrifying accident on Christmas Day return home

Three young children who survived a horrific accident on Christmas Day that killed both parents have returned home to relatives.

Jake Day, 28, and Cindy Braddock, 25, died when their Land Rover Discover overturned on a remote road in the Western Australian town of Kondinin, 279km east of Perth.

Their three young children, Synthia, 5, Bevan, 2, and Charlez, 1, all survived the crash but were stranded for 55 hours before the wreckage was finally found around noon on 27.12.

Synthia was hailed as a hero after relatives revealed the little girl unbuckled her little brother from his car seat, saving his life.

According to the family, she told her siblings, “Nanny will take care of us now.”

The children were treated for cuts, bruises and dehydration before being flown to Perth Children’s Hospital, where they spent five days before being given the green light to leave.

Synthia (5), Bevan (2) and Charlez (1) have returned home a week after a horrific accident that killed both their parents

They smiled and squeaked with delight as they played at a park in Perth on Saturday.

The next day they returned home to Kondinin to finally open their presents from Santa Claus that were waiting for them under the Christmas tree.

They will live with their grandmother, Annette Day, a local hospital nurse.

“The next goal is to just keep babysitting the kids,” Day’s stepfather, Richard Parker, told Seven News.

The children appear to be doing well despite their harrowing ordeal.

‘[They are] full of life, jumped in the car, thinking we might have had trouble getting one or two of them into their car seats, but they were right in,” Mr. Parker told Nine News.

“Good chances that I’ll end up moving there too, just to get some support and we’ll continue from there.”

The family had left Northam, WA around 1 a.m. Sunday and were on their way home to Kondinin, about 200 km away before the tragic accident

Cindy Braddock and Jack Day perished in the crash. Image: Facebook

He also paid a heartbreaking tribute to the crash victims when he delivered an emotional plea

“Jake would do anything for those three kids. Cindy was the same. It was hard to get the kids away from them,” added Mr. Parker.

The family also thanked Australians for their support with nearly $140,000 raised for the orphans.

Mr. Day’s cousin Casey Guyer provided an update on the fundraising page last Friday.

“I’ve been visiting the children and I can’t overcome their powers. Three beautiful, beautiful children who are so special and strong,” she wrote.

“We cannot thank everyone enough for their donations, it is overwhelming.

“And a big thank you to everyone who respects the family’s privacy at this extremely difficult time.”

When she was discovered by family friends after 55 hours in 30 degree heat at the crash site, the brave Synthia’s first words were: “Nanny will take care of us now”.

“She’s amazing, her brother wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for her and she loves her nanny,” her friend Kailee Wallace told The West Australian.

The children were stranded by the rubble for 55 hours. Image: Included

The children were stranded by the rubble for 55 hours. Image: Included

Her bravery is the reason she and her little brothers are alive today

“The five-year-old got stuck in the vehicle and she then got the one-year-old out of the car seat, then they were stuck in the car for 55 hours in 30-degree heat,” Mr Day’s cousin Michael Reading said.

“It would have been difficult for the three children to sit in the car all the time. Nobody knows what they went through.

“And if the five-year-old hadn’t unbuckled the one-year-old’s car seat, he wouldn’t be with us today.”