The bodies of Damien Little and his children – Hunter, aged about one, and four-year-old Koda – were pulled from the water off Brennen Wharf in the Eyre Peninsula town on Monday.

Police confirmed the car they were in had been deliberately driven off the wharf and into 30 metres of water.

The car involved in the Port Lincoln tragedy has been retrieved from the water off Brennan's Wharf. #9News pic.twitter.com/PcoALGsGyO

— 9News Adelaide (@9NewsAdel) January 4, 2016

The incident has stunned locals with neighbours describing the two children as “vivacious, sensational and beautiful”.

One neighbour told the Adelaide Advertiser Mr Little and his wife Melissa were “absolutely doting parents”.

“I tell everyone how blessed those children were to have such wonderful parents. I could not fault them in anyway,” the neighbour said.

Little and his wife operated a floor-covering business and he had also played for the Lincoln South Football Club.

Police described the deaths as heartbreaking.

“It’s a small community. No doubt this will affect a lot of people living in Port Lincoln,” Detective Superintendent Paul Yeomans said.

A shotgun was also retrieved from the car.

Port Lincoln Mayor Bruce Green said he felt “empty” after hearing the news.

“You’re just dumbfounded as to why these things can happen,” he said.

“You don’t have any power in solving what’s just happened or changing what’s just happened. So you just feel a little empty.”

Hundreds of tributes have been left to the children on social media.

Locals have also begun to place flowers and teddy bears on the edge of the wharf.

Police continue to investigate the deaths and are preparing a report for the state coroner.

-AAP

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