It’s understood aged care worker Tshering Penjor was a strong swimmer, with his death leaving his wife and daughter shocked.

The 38-year-old slipped beneath the surface of the river while trying to rescue two children in trouble on an inflatable kayak.

Onlookers rushed to help but he couldn’t be saved.

Those who know the father-of-one said he was a strong swimmer who knew the area and had visited several times.

His 13-year-old daughter was also there, along with three other children and two adults.

Witnesses say no-one was wearing a life jacket.

Six people were rushed to hospital following the incident with one woman in her 30s remaining at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital in a stable condition.

“These are horrible events when they take place at a time when family should be celebrating together not grieving together,” WA Premier Roger Cook said of the school holiday tragedy.

Penjor, a member of WA’s Bhutanese community, and his family moved to Perth about seven years ago.

His wife wasn’t at Moore River with her husband and their daughter, instead at work in Perth.

“She was in a state of shock and then she was saying she cannot believe the situation,” Bhutanese Association president Kinley Tenzin told 9News.

It’s understood a staff member from the Guilderton Holiday Park was among those who rushed to help, bringing out a defibrillator in an attempt to save the man’s life.

Today, local Janelle Kelly bought several life jackets and left them out for anyone to use in hopes her small act may prevent another drowning.

“I just think doing a little bit of something is better than doing nothing so this is a little bit of something that I can add and hopefully, it makes a difference,” Kelly said.