A new fundraiser set up for a grieving father has offered a heartbreaking glimpse into the family life shattered by last week’s cliff tragedy in South Australia.
Helena Wright, from Mt Gambier, died on July 27 after jumping from a clifftop with her two young children at Cape Northumberland, about 6km west of Port MacDonnell in the state’s south-east.
The bodies of Ms Wright and little Hazel were spotted in the dangerous waters below and recovered by local fishermen. Despite an extensive search, three-month-old Lewis has still not been found.
Police have confirmed they are treating the tragedy as a murder-suicide and said there was “zero” chance the infant survived, leaving the close-knit community reeling.
The land and water search for Lewis was called off on Wednesday, though police have said they will continue checking the shoreline for any sign of his remains.
The devastation has been compounded by revelations that Estonian-born Ms Wright had gone to the Mt Gambier police station on Sunday pleading for help, but was turned away.
After a friend contacted police on Monday morning requesting a welfare check, officers arrived at Ms Wright’s Compton home about 9.30am and found it empty. By then, she was likely already travelling to Cape Northumberland with Lewis and Hazel in her vehicle.
Ms Wright’s husband, Brad, has not publicly addressed the loss of his wife and their only two children. On Friday, however, a friend launched a GoFundMe in tribute to the family.
A newly released portrait shows Helena and Brad Wright with their children Lewis and Hazel
Ms Wright – need Luig – attended a family wedding alongside Mr Wright in 2021
The young mum leaped to her death with her babies at Port Macdonnell, South Australoia
Photos shared on the page show Ms Wright cuddling her baby son, Lewis, and smiling alongside her husband, Brad, as he wrangles their energetic 23-month-old daughter, Hazel, who clings to her mother’s arm.
It confirmed reports the Wrights were deeply religious, with fundraiser organiser Adam Hockley saying: ‘On the 27th of July, Helena stepped from a cliff with her beautiful babies in her arms into the arms of her waiting savior’.
Mr Hockley said there had been huge support for ‘Helgs, Haz’o, Lou Lou and Bradster’.
‘Man, the Lord provides, in this darkest hour, with broken Aussie families and mates from country south-east South Australia and further afield – even so far as Estonia, Denmark and the USA – providing love, support, lasagna, strong hugs, tears, immense pain, joy and true mateship,’ he said.
The GoFundMe, which has raised $31,000 of a $75,000 goal, will ‘help to finance a funeral, flights for Helena’s family from Estonia, cover some costs, and help Brad to keep on keeping on. We only want a donation from anyone that can afford it and from others’.
Mr Hockley encouraged people to ‘hold your family close’.
‘Look to God for true peace and go visit a mate and give them a hug. If there’s someone in your life you haven’t forgiven, or you need to talk with, do it today because you don’t know how long you have,’ he said.
Inside the mother’s final days
Helena and Brad pose with his parents, Karen and Ian Wright, in 2021
Helena joined the Wrights on a family camping trip, seen here with Brad’s sister Jessica
It appeared Ms Wright, who is from Estonia, was close with her Australian in-laws
It is understood Mr Wright, an electrician, last saw his family on Monday morning before he left for work.
A neighbour told the Daily Mail on Thursday he had not been seen at his home since, and was understood to be in the care of family nearby.
The neighbours witnessed police searching frantically for Ms Wright on Monday morning, following the call for a welfare check.
‘I did not see an ambulance on Monday morning but I did see two police. I heard them banging on the door but no one was home and they spoke to my husband to see if everything seemed alright,’ one woman said.
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Ms Wright’s white Isuzu MU-X SUV was later found with its engine still running at the Cape Northumberland car park, a 30-minute drive away.
Rumours have swirled around Mt Gambier, a city of 28,000 people in the state’s south-east, about what could have made a young mother jump from a cliff with her two babies.
Many blamed postnatal depression or psychosis, though authorities have provided no solid evidence that she suffered from either.
In the absence of information, cruel and utterly baseless speculation flourished on social media, where false allegations have been made.
The Wrights married around 2023 at the Mount Gambier Presbyterian Church
Police called off the water and air search for missing baby Lewis’ remains on Wednesday
But for the Wrights’ neighbour, the explanation for this abject tragedy is simple.
‘She was obviously troubled and obviously depressed,’ she said.
The neighbour vehemently rejected the false speculation about Mr Wright online, clarifying: ‘Brad was a tremendous father who adored his wife. It’s very disappointing what people are saying.
‘It’s absolutely horrendous. They are very private people.’
Through tears, she added: ‘Hazel was the most beautiful little girl’.
Daily Mail understands that most of Ms Wright’s family live in Estonia – and they are thought to be travelling to Australia for her funeral.
They have been contacted for comment.
A neighbour previously told the Adelaide Advertiser that the Wrights could often be seen outside pushing Hazel on a swing ‘for hours’.
Brad and Helena on a family camping trip, during which they would jokingly flip off the camera
The sneaky flip-off seemed to be a tradition among Brad and his cousins
Emergency services raced to Cape Northumberland, where Helena and Hazel were found
Since Lewis joined the family three months ago, he was often ‘strapped to his dad’s chest’.
They said the couple went to church every Sunday, with Ms Wright priding herself on her garden and making clothes for her children.
‘I have spoken to his family, and they are devastated,’ another neighbour said.
Police confirmed they considered the case a murder-suicide after speaking to Mr Wright and determining there was no other person involved.
Since it was revealed that Ms Wright had attended Mt Gambier police station in some form of distress on Sunday and was apparently turned away, SA cops have been under pressure to provide an explanation.
One local, speaking to the Daily Mail on Thursday, said: ‘There’s a big question mark over the whole thing. And police know more than they’re telling us about what happened at the police station on Sunday.’
‘I went down the street this morning and every third person I came across was having a quiet discussion about what they think really happened,’ the Compton man said.
‘The police know a lot more but aren’t saying anything, and that’s where the conspiracy theories are coming from.’
A coronial investigation is now underway, with a report to be prepared for the coroner.
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