Melbourne's West Gate bridge has a 58m drop into the Yarra RiverThe father of a four-year-old girl who was reportedly thrown 58m (190ft) from a bridge in Australia into the river below has been charged with her murder.
Witnesses said a man stopped his car on Melbourne's West Gate Bridge and threw the child over the side.
The 36-year-old suspect may have been involved in a custody dispute with his wife, Melbourne police said.
The girl died a few hours later, after being airlifted to the city's Royal Children's Hospital, officials said.
She had been rescued from the Yarra River in critical condition, and police spent 45 minutes attempting to resuscitate her on the riverbank before she was transported to the hospital.
Court arrest
Two other children were in the car at the time of the incident, which happened during the morning rush hour as hundreds of other motorists were using the bridge, police said.
"No one had the opportunity to intervene... it all happened fairly quickly," Detective Inspector Steve Clark was quoted as saying by AFP news agency.
"It's a dreadful set of circumstances, and often you think you've seen it all but you haven't," said Mr Clark.
He said the "visibly distressed" man was arrested outside a Melbourne court that deals with family matters shortly after the incident.
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