“THERE’S blood everywhere.”

These were believed to be the words of a Woree man in a desperate call to triple-0 as his defacto partner lay bleeding to death and he nursed multiple stab wounds.

It is alleged Ricky Cowan, 48, and Crystal Ratcliffe, 38, were involved in a domestic altercation. Police were last night working to piece together the chain of events.

She was declared dead at the scene and he had to be brought back to life twice by paramedics before being taken to Cairns Hospital in a critical condition.

The couple’s two children arrived home from school just after 3pm yesterday to find it taped off and police swarming the area.

They were taken into the care of a neighbour as older siblings travelled to Cairns to take care of them.

A neighbour, who did not wish to be named, said he heard nothing leading up to the alleged incident.

“I got a bit of a shock. I was working at my computer and then one police car showed up, then another one,” he said. “It’s normally a really quiet street.”

Police would not confirm if any weapons have been seized, although the Cairns Post understands two knives were found at the scene.

Far North police Det Acting Supt Geoff Marsh said the couple’s injuries were “consistent with a bladed weapon”.

He said it was believed the pair were the only people at home at the time.

“The two people that know what happened inside that residence, at this stage, unfortunately one is tragically deceased, and the other one is suffering critical injuries,” he said.

“At this stage of the investigation there are no further suspects.

“We’ve done a doorknock of the area, but we’re also calling on anyone who has information in relation to this incident to call Crime Stoppers or the Cairns CIB.”

He said Mr Cowan was under police guard at the hospital.

Detectives, forensic and scientific officers remained at the scene late yesterday.

Two dogs, believed to belong to the couple, had to be led from the house by officers.