The devastated family of two young boys who drowned in Townsville's Ross River is fundraising to bring their sons back to Darwin.
After a night of frantic searching, the bodies of Jhulio Sariago and Barak Austral, aged three and five, were found submerged just metres away from each other on Tuesday morning.
WARNING: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are advised that the following story contains images of people who have died.
Overwhelmed with the local and global reaction to the boys' tragic deaths, the family is now asking for help to bring their bodies back to country in the Northern Territory.
Speaking to media on Wednesday alongside several relatives of the boys, family advocate Gracelyn Smallwood said the parents were in a "traumatic state" and had asked for privacy.
"It was just amazing how people came together from all different backgrounds to show their condolences, love and support to our two precious little souls that we unfortunately lost a few days ago," Ms Smallwood said.
"We are in a really sad and traumatic time but it is also going to cost a bit of money to take our babies back to their country in Darwin in the NT."
Hope for final farewell in Darwin
She said they were hoping to hold a smoking ceremony on Sunday afternoon at Cranbrook Park before taking the boys back to Darwin — a process which could cost several thousand dollars.
She also said the family lost another relative, a seven-year-old, years ago and they were hoping to erect three crosses at the site.
"We're hoping this will never be forgotten," she said.
A media release from the family said they wanted the boys to be returned to "their traditional land for their final farewell and community in Darwin".
A GoFundMe campaign not connect with the immediate family has so far raised thousands of dollars, but the family asked for any donations to go through another site.
Family 'overwhelmed with grief'
Police have said the boys died in a tragic case of misadventure and there were no suspicious circumstances.
According to relatives, the boys had slipped out of the sight of their mother, Leeann Eatts, while playing at home.
When she realised they were missing she ran to the water and started screaming their names.
She was next to where their bodies would later be found but did not see them.
Ms Smallwood said the family remained in deep mourning over the incident.
"I've spoken to both the mum and dad and grandparents and they are just overwhelmed with grief and want to thank the community and the media and the SES and the police — all those services who came to help out," she said.
"We want to thank the community very much for whoever came out in support of looking for our babies.
"But also to the people who couldn't make it — the blessings they sent, and the shrine that was put up with the teddy bears and flowers."
