NSW town shocked by death of doctor

Three children left orphaned following the death of their parents are being looked after by the mother's friends in the NSW town of Lithgow.

The three children of a NSW doctor who died after being allegedly attacked by her husband are being cared for by family friends, as the local community comes to grips with her loss.

The boys aged 13 and 18, woke to find their mother unconscious and badly injured in their home in Lithgow, west of Sydney, at about 8am (AEST) on Tuesday.

Local doctor Leonie Geldenhuys, 46, died at the scene from stab wounds.

Investigators later found the body of a 54-year-old man at another property at nearby Wolgan Valley.

Police confirmed the man - named by local media as Jakavas Geldenhuys - was the children's father and also a doctor, and said his death wasn't being treated as suspicious. It's believed the couple had been estranged.

The boys' 21-year-old sister, who studies in Sydney, returned to Lithgow on Tuesday to be with her brothers, according to Dr Asaad Baraz, who works at the Lithgow medical centre where Dr Geldenhuys practised.

"We spent a few hours yesterday talking about the whole thing," he told Fairfax Radio Network on Wednesday.

The three children were now together and staying with family friends.

"We will look after them, all of us. I was overwhelmed with the messages of support," Dr Baraz said.

It's believed there are no other family members in Australia.

Dr Geldenhuys migrated to Australia from South Africa with her family six years ago.

Dr Baraz said the Lithgow community was shocked by what had happened.

"She was very, very popular - everyone loved her," he said.

"She is a delightful lady, just delightful - there are no words that can describe our loss, she will be deeply, deeply missed."

Chifley local area command crime manager Luke Rankin said on Tuesday it had been a day of unimaginable grief for the two boys.

"It's unimaginable to them - first finding their mother deceased and then, as the day's gone on, we've had to inform them that their father's also been found dead," he said.

Homicide Squad detectives are investigating the death and will prepare a report for the coroner.

* Readers seeking support and information about suicide prevention should call Lifeline on 131 114 or the Suicide Callback Service on 1300 659 467.


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Source: AAP


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