'She was always by her mother's side': The deep bond between 'little cowgirl', 10, and her mum, 39, is revealed after they were both killed in horror electrocution
- Juanita Bendel, 39, and her daughter Ava, 10, both died on New Year's Eve
- They both received fatal electric shocks as they connected a charger to a trailer
- Ray and Rosanne Bendel, Juanita's parents, issued a heartbreaking statement
The touching bond between a mother and her 10-year-old daughter who were killed in a horror double electrocution has been revealed.
Juanita Bendel, 39, and her 'little cowgirl' Ava were spending New Year's Eve together at their property in Tumoulin, near Cairns in far north Queensland, when tragedy struck.
The pair were killed after receiving a massive electric shock after attaching a charger to a semi-trailer, which had already been attached to an electric fence to keep horses out.
Ray and Rosanne Bendel, Juanita's parents, issued a heartbreaking statement on Thursday.
Juanita Bendel (left) and her daughter spent their final moments picking vegetables together on their family farm, before both were tragically shocked to death by a live wire
Ava Collins, 10, (pictured) and her mother were electrocuted on a rural cattle property, possibly while fixing a cable to a semi-trailer
'Juanita loved country life and animals,' they said.
'Ava also loved country life and always by her mother's side. Please check to make sure that all sheds and houses have throw-out safety switches.'
Juanita Bendel's husband Mitchell Cole, who is Ava's father, returned home at about lunchtime to find the couple's second eldest daughter in hysterics, before making the grim discovery.
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'The husband has found them, he had come back for the farm for lunch; he too received a sizeable shock,' Superintendent Geoff Sheldon told The Cairns Post.
'He began to give CPR... paramedics tried to resuscitate both mother and child but efforts were negative.'
Both Ms Bendel, who ran a childcare centre at nearby Ravenshoe, and her daughter were pronounced dead at the scene.
The pair had spent New Year's Day together at their property in Tumoulin, near Cairns in Far North Queensland
Supt Sheldon said the tragedy had rocked the tight-knit community of less than 800 people.
'It is just a family tragedy but it is such a broader thing than that,' he said.
'Everybody in the community knew them, came to help at a time of crisis and they have all been horrendously affected by this.'
Tablelands Regional Council Mayor Joe Paronella said the deaths came as an 'awful shock' to the community.
'It's a tragedy… and very sad loss. It just highlights how careful we have to be at all times,' Cr Paronella told the Cairns Post.
Daily Mail Australia understands Ava attended the Catholic St Teresa's Primary School in Ravenshoe and was the eldest of three girls.
The married mother lived with her family on a cattle and horse property she owned with her husband.
Ava's four-year-old sister Hannah suffered minor injuries from the electrified setup as she went outside to look for them.
Their neighbour Mark Toohey, who arrived at the scene soon after tragedy struck, was distraught at losing those next door to him.
He described the child who lost her life as 'an active little cowgirl'.
'The family's grieving, we're all grieving, I was on site,' he told Daily Mail Australia on Wednesday.
'The chances of this happening are so remote. That's what makes it especially tragic.'
Ava was remembered for being a cowgirl, and poses as one with friends at the Brahman 50th anniversary Cairns Show
Local councillor Annette Haydon knew the family personally and was shocked by their sudden death.
'Juanita always had the biggest smile on her face. She was always happy to talk to you. These are terrible circumstances,' she told the Courier Mail.
Juanita's aunty, Roseanne Bendel, told the publication the tragedy was 'beyond comprehension'.
'I can't even think at the moment. They are just a wonderful family and we're just all so devastated... [Ava] was a beautiful little 10-year-old,' she said.
Workplace Health and Safety is investigating the incident and police are preparing a report for the Coroner.
Local councillor Annette Haydon knew the family personally and was shocked by their sudden death (pictured is Tumoulin in far north Queensland)
