The children survived 55 hours in a car with their deceased parents

A family of five drove off the road on the night of Christmas Day in Western Australia.

Cindy Braddock (25) and Jake Day (28) died in the accident, while their three children survived.

The children, aged five, two and one, had to spend the next 55 hours alone in the car with their deceased parents.

Extensive search operation

The family of five was reported missing on the afternoon of December 25 after they failed to attend a Christmas party.

An extensive search was launched by the police and volunteers in the following days. On Tuesday, a family member found the family’s Land Rover only ten kilometers from their hometown of Kondinin.

The car had driven off the road and was lying on its roof ten meters from a deserted country road behind some bushes.

Saved the little brother

The three children were in the back seat when the accident occurred, and the five-year-old girl helped the youngest brother out of the seat belt. He was trapped in a baby seat with his head down.

– If she hadn’t been able to open the one-year-old’s belt, he wouldn’t be alive today. She probably won’t understand that for many years, says Michael Read, who is the deceased man’s cousin.

All three children are said to have been inside the car when they were found.

– Growing up without anyone

Following the accident, the children were sent to hospital very dehydrated, but are said to have escaped with minor injuries.

– All the children are fine. They will most likely be out within the next few days, says Read.

He says it is still uncertain what will happen to the children.

– It is difficult for the children who now have to grow up without someone. Apart from other family members, he added ABC.

The cause of the accident is still unknown, but thorough investigations will be carried out in the near future to find out the course of events.