Unimaginable tragedy strikes Ashburton

Canterbury District Commander Superintendent John Price and other Police officers formed a guard of honour as the bodies were removed from the Ashburton home. Photo / Martin Hunter

Unimaginable tragedy struck Ashburton yesterday: A mother and her three young children found dead by a relative whose house they were sitting.

They were gassed by a car accidentally left running in an internal garage.

The television was still playing for Cindy George's daughter Pio, 5, and two sons, Teuruaa, 3, and Telyzshaun, 2.

Ms George - who was admired for her strength as a single mother - was found just metres from her children in a hallway.

The grief and shock of devastated family and friends as they crossed the red and white police emergency tape on Thomson St was shared throughout the small township today.

"You can feel it when you come into Ashburton," said Bishop Moea Pongia, of the Latter Day Saints church where Ms George and her children were devout members.

"You can feel the community and know something has gone on here, you can feel it."

The "awesome family" are known widely in the Mormon and Cook Island communities, where they are considered family despite Ms George's relatives living mainly in her native Rarotonga.

The house they were sitting was an "immaculate" townhouse, rented by perfect tenants known as friendly, chatty neighbours.

Even for those who didn't know the family, a grim undercurrent ran throughout the township.

Condolences from strangers flooded social media.

There is an overwhelming disbelief that four lives could be lost in such unbelievable circumstances.

It is an accident so heartbreaking it publicly moved the people professionally equipped to deal with tragedy.

In the middle of Thomson St, a line of uniformed police officers removed their hats as three hearses began what should be any town's saddest procession.