Investigators are trying to determine what led to a suspected murder-suicide on Saturday, after the bodies of a father and young child were recovered from a bay in Sydney’s inner west.

Shortly before 11:45am officers were called to Bayview Park in Concord following reports that a man was found dead in the waters at Parramatta River.

Family and domestic violence support services:

• NSW Domestic Violence Line on 1800 656 463
• Lifeline on 131 114
• Men’s Referral Service on 1300 766 491
• Mensline on 1300 789 978
• Full Stop Australia on 1800 385 578
• Emergency services on Triple Zero (000) if you need immediate care

The man, aged in his 40s, had been in a small boat with his six-year-old daughter that morning and their boat was later found unattended and floating in a bay.

A separate call had also been made to police that day by a friend of the man who said he had “concerns for the child’s welfare and the man’s welfare”.

Both bodies were recovered by Saturday afternoon.

Superintendent Christine McDonald from the Burwood Police Area Command on Saturday described the situation as “an absolute tragedy for the family and for the community on every level”.

She confirmed over the weekend that domestic violence was “a definite line of inquiry” in the case.

The major operation to recover the bodies involved marine area command, police divers and police aviation command. (ABC News)

Superintendent McDonald said the mother of the child was being assisted by police.

“It would rock any mother to the core,” Superintendent McDonald said.

Police said the man had hired the boat from a local vessel hire company.

Concord resident Graham Aston told the ABC the incident “certainly hurts everyone” in the community.

“Such a young life and had a world ahead of her — it’s just a tragedy,” he said of the six-year-old girl.

The homicide squad are now involved in the investigation, with a report to be prepared for the coroner.