A toddler has been found dead in a Sydney apartment alongside an injured a man, authorities say.
The three-year-old was found inside the Riverwood home at about 4pm on Wednesday.
“Emergency services were called to a unit complex on Washington Avenue, Riverwood, after reports of a concern for welfare,” a police spokesperson said.
“Officers attended and found a three-year-old boy deceased inside.”
Officers also found the 45-year-old man who was treated at the scene for serious injuries. He was taken to hospital in a critical condition before police later on Wednesday night said his condition was stable.
“There has been limited interaction with him at this stage,” a NSW police spokesperson confirmed in a press conference.
A female related to the 45-year-old male, who resided in the unit, contacted triple zero.
The child’s mother died “a couple of years ago”, NSW police confirmed.
Police said they believe the 45-year-old male has a partner who was not present at the scene.
A crime scene was established and anyone with information was urged to contact Crime Stoppers.
NSW police confirmed the homicide squad had been contacted and an investigation had commenced.
Superintendent Sheridan Waldau told reporters on Wednesday night that “any kind of incident involving a small child is always a tragic incident.”
“Our condolences go out to the extended family of the child.
“Unfortunately police attend domestic violence incidents all the time. We attend to 140,000 incidents every year, and unfortunately some of them end up in homicide,” Waldau said.
ABC TV reported the incident involved a stabbing and that NSW police were not looking for anyone else at this stage.
The state opposition leader, Mark Speakman, described the situation as shocking and senseless.
“My heartfelt sympathy goes out to the family of the young boy whose life was tragically taken today,” he said.
The NSW police spokesperson said the scene was a “obviously a horrific incident” for the officers in attendance.
“They have family members, young children, anything like this is a very traumatic experience for police to attend,” the spokesperson said.
“It is the worst job involving a child.”
