Community rallies behind children cable-tied after entering pool

A community has come together to raise funds for two young children to buy their own pool after they were allegedly detained by a tradesman for swimming in a Broome backyard.

Stuart, 7, and Margaret, 6, were swimming in a pool at a property in Cable Beach on Tuesday when they were allegedly physically restrained by Mat Radelic, 45, for trespassing.

Part of the incident was live-streamed to Facebook as onlookers shouted for the release of the children, whose hands were cable-tied together.

Three children with their hands cable-tied in a Broome yard. (A Current Affair)

The community is fundraising for the children’s family to buy their own pool. (Facebook)

A fundraiser was launched to support the family with the community raising $5000 in total within 24 hours.

The money will go towards buying an above-ground swimming pool and pool toys for the pair.

“Stuart and Margaret are going to have safe swims anytime they like,” the organiser wrote on social media, alongside a copy of a receipt for a pool set from Big W.

“Community did this – thank you.”

Mat Radelic says his decision to allegedly tie up three children in a Broome front yard wasn’t racially motivated. (9News)

Police were called to the Cable Beach home on Tuesday to investigate a reported trespass incident but instead found Margaret and Stuart tied up.

They later located a third child, an eight-year-old boy, who they said had been detained but fled before police arrived.

Their mother Rowena told A Current Affair that her son Stuart had suffered nightmares following the incident, with the cable ties bound so tightly around his wrists that it left “a bit of blood, a bit of a scratch”.

Radelic has been charged with assault. He was granted bail to face court at a later date.