A woman who drowned along with two of her children in a suspected murder-suicide had attempted to cure her bipolar disorder with a diet recommended by a controversial celebrity “medical medium.”
The bodies of Hoai Doan, 32, and her children Mitchell, seven, and Hazel, five, were recovered on Saturday from Sydney’s Georges River, near Shearer Park in Lansvale, following reports the family was trapped in a fast moving current.
Passersby desperately tried to rescue the mother and children, jumping into the river and grabbing boats, but they could not save their lives.
Police are reportedly investigating whether the tragedy was a murder-suicide.
On Monday morning, the children’s father, Dihn Nguyen, appeared at the dock to lay flowers at the spot where Mitchell and Hazel lost their lives and confirmed that his wife was taking medication for bipolar disorder, describing her as “up and down.” below”.
Daily Mail Australia can reveal Ms Doan had been hospitalized due to mental health issues over the past two years and had an interest in holistic healing.
In a series of social media posts, the mother of three documented her marital problems and efforts to improve her mental health, which appeared to be based largely on a book called Brain Saver by a self-described “medical medium.” ,Anthony. William.
In one post, a family member told her not to give up, to which she responded, “God doesn’t let me die easily.”
Hoai Doan is pictured with a copy of Anthony William’s book in November 2022, which he found on his fourth hospital admission.
Hoai and his two children, 5-year-old Hazel and 7-year-old Mitchell, (pictured on a fishing adventure) drowned in the Georges River on Saturday.
William, who does not appear to have a medical degree, maintains that his medical expertise was given to him by a spirit when he was four years old and that his connection with that entity allows him to cure illnesses, ranging from minor to serious.
The book promises to provide readers with “answers to brain inflammation, mental health, OCD, brain fog, neurological symptoms, addiction, anxiety, heavy metals, seizures, Lyme disease, ADHD, Alzheimer’s, autoimmune and eating disorders.
Ms. Doan’s posts, written in Vietnamese and translated into English, revolve around her hospitalizations and how she began consuming “heavy metal detox shakes” and drinking honey lemonade to improve her condition.
In 2022, she wrote about a time when she “lost control on the street and was taken away by an ambulance,” only to be released the next morning.
“The second time I lost control at home and my family called an ambulance and stayed there for a month, took medication and had an extraction,” he wrote.
“The third time I caused a scene and argued with my husband and the police arrested me and I stayed there for a month, took medication and had an extraction; this was the fourth time my husband called an ambulance and they extracted him and had than to take medicine.
It was during his fourth visit to the hospital that he discovered William’s book.
Dihn Nguyen (pictured with his wife and daughter) broke his silence about the tragedy on Monday.
Vietnamese Hoai, 32, and her two children Mitchell and Hazel Nguyen, aged seven and five, (pictured) drowned in the Georges River on Saturday.
Hoai Doan (pictured) attempted to cure his bipolar disorder with a diet recommended by a famous and controversial medical medium.
“(Anthony William) is the only person who says that neurological diseases are caused by a silent metal in the brain,” he wrote.
‘(His books) provide answers to the world’s serious illnesses. He was the first to look at the sick and said that the fault lies not with the sick but with external influences.’
Ms. Doan talked about “you should use a heavy metal detox smoothie,” which contains five types of herbs, and mentioned returning to Vietnam because of the abundance of fruits and vegetables.
She continued: ‘There were times when my husband and I disagreed just because of food and drink, and then it all happened.
‘Although Vietnam is not as good as Australia, after 3 years of treatment, I only see that they give me medicine and take it away. If I don’t go, the police will come to my house to escort me.
‘I have lived long enough with medicine, although everything is free, I choose freedom, happiness and eating according to (William).
‘You should use HMDS (heavy metal detox shake), 1 type of smoothie with 5 types of herbs to detox heavy metals and drink honey lemonade, squeezed juice.’
The mother of three documented her marital problems and her efforts to improve her mental health.
Dinh Nguyen (pictured with his daughter Hazel on a trip to the aquarium) admitted his wife had “some ups and downs.”
Dinh Nguyen learned of the deaths of Hazel (left) and Mitchell (right) when he returned home from work on Saturday.
Friends have expressed shock at the death of mother-of-three Hoai Doan (pictured with her husband).
Emergency services rushed to the boat ramp at Shearer Park on Hollywood Drive, Lansvale, on the Georges River after the family drowned.
On Monday, Nguyen opened up about his wife’s mental health issues, telling the Sydney Morning Herald that his wife ‘take medicine’.
“Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t,” he said.
“He has bipolar disorder and has some ups and downs.”
He added that she was in good spirits late last week before the tragedy.
She often accompanied her husband to maintenance work, but she refused to go on Saturday.
“She told me last night that she didn’t sleep and that she wanted to stay home,” he said.
He only found out about the tragedy when he returned from work and the police knocked on his door.
A friend told the publication that the family attended a birthday party at the same park a week before the tragedy.
Hazel was always smiling and loved princesses, while Mitchell loved Spider-Man and math.
Family friend Sarah Vu released a GoFundMe appeal to raise money for Mr Nguyen and his one-year-old son, who is in Vietnam with relatives.
In two days almost $60,000 has been raised.
Police investigations continue into what happened in the park.
Ms. Doan had been hospitalized due to her mental health problems.
Police are reportedly investigating whether the tragedy was a murder-suicide. In the photo, Mitchell and Hazel.
Bystanders desperately tried to rescue Mitchell and his sister Hazel (pictured) along with their mother.
“Police and several bystanders conducted an immediate search operation for that woman and two children,” Fairfield Acting Superintendent Luke Scott said.
‘It is indescribable how tragic it would have been for the people who watched what happened and also for the family.
“Several passersby tried to rescue the children and their mother, but unfortunately they did not succeed.”
A report will be prepared for the coroner.
Anyone with information relating to this incident is asked to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
If you or someone you know needs help, call Lifeline: 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue: 1300 22 4636.
