It’s understood aged care worker Tshering Penjor was a strong swimmer, with his death leaving his wife and daughter shocked.
The 38-year-old slipped beneath the surface of the river while trying to rescue two children in trouble on an inflatable kayak.
Onlookers rushed to help but he couldn’t be saved.
Those who know the father-of-one said he was a strong swimmer who knew the area and had visited several times.
His 13-year-old daughter was also there, along with three other children and two adults.
Witnesses say no-one was wearing a life jacket.
Six people were rushed to hospital following the incident with one woman in her 30s remaining at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital in a stable condition.
“These incidents are truly tragic, especially during a period meant for family celebration, not mourning,” stated WA Premier Roger Cook regarding the holiday tragedy.
Penjor, a member of WA’s Bhutanese community, and his family moved to Perth about seven years ago.
His wife wasn’t at Moore River with her husband and their daughter, instead at work in Perth.
“She was in a state of shock and then she was saying she cannot believe the situation,” Bhutanese Association president Kinley Tenzin told 9News.
Reports suggest that a worker from the Guilderton Holiday Park was among the first to respond, using a defibrillator in an effort to revive the man.
Today, local Janelle Kelly bought several life jackets and left them out for anyone to use in hopes her small act may prevent another drowning.
“I believe that taking any action is better than doing nothing, so I contributed what I could in hopes that it would make a difference,” remarked Kelly.
