The children’s 37-year-old mother was spotted by a passerby emerging from the water in a state of panic and was taken by rescuers to hospital with advanced hypothermia.

Searches for the four-year-old on land, water and in the air have been ongoing since Monday night. Authorities are investigating why the mother and the two children were on the beach at night, and how they ended up in the water.

Reports of domestic violence and sexual abuse by the father are starting to emerge.