About 6.20pm on Thursday, February 16, emergency services were called to a property on Veterans Road, Gunning, after a 69-year-old man collapsed while working in an empty in ground cement water tank.

Police have been told his 68-year-old brother and the 69-year-old’s wife, aged 63 years, went to his assistance and also collapsed. It is believed the 63-year-old woman alerted a neighbour before entering the water tank.

The neighbour was able to contact emergency services. The bodies of the trio were located deceased inside the enclosed water tank.

Officers from The Hume Local Area Command established a crime scene which will be examined by forensic officers.

The Hume Local Area Commander Acting Superintendent Andrew Koutsoufis said this tragedy had impacted the closely knit township of Gunning and its surrounding farming communities.

“We are not treating their deaths as suspicious,” Acting Superintendent Koutsoufis said.

“Police are following a number of lines of inquiry, including whether the trio were overcome by fumes.

“There has a wide ranging impact when heartbreaking events such as this occur in rural towns.

“All first responders who attended the property last night are being offered welfare support.”

A brief will be prepared for the information of the Coroner.