A man killed his three children under the age of 10 in a horrific car fire before stabbing himself to death has been identified as a former NRL player. His estranged wife later also passed away due to horrific burns.

Rowan Baxter, who played for the New Zealand Warriors, died in the car fire in the Brisbane suburb of Camp Hill on Wednesday.

The Courier Mailreported that Baxter was in a custody dispute with his wife, Hannah.

A witness reportedly heard a woman, believed to be his estranged wife, scream “he’s poured petrol on me” after leaping out of the burning car.

Round 19

Hannah Baxter and her son Trey. Photo: Facebook Source: Supplied

The witness told The Australian that Hannah Baxter was “rolling on the footpath in flames”.

This was reportedly followed by “four other explosions”.

Hannah Baxter, 31, was rushed to Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital but was later declared dead from her injuries on Wednesday night, according to Queensland Police.

Police were called to Raven St in Camp Hill about 8.30am after receiving reports of a car on fire.

Rowan Baxter and his three children. Source: Facebook

Multiple people, including children, have been confirmed dead. Picture: Nine News/Channel 9 Source: Channel 9

Three children, aged six, four and three — Laianah, Aaliyah and Trey —were found dead inside the vehicle after the car went up in flames.

Baxter, 42, was declared dead at the scene after emergency crews attempted to revive him.

A fifth person, a woman, was taken to hospital with “extensive injuries”, police said this morning.

The Courier Mail spoke to a witness who claimed claimed Baxter jumped into his estranged wife’s car while she was on the school run, setting it on fire before stabbing himself to death.

Channel Nine news reported that Baxter died from self-inflicted stab wounds. Police confirmed to news.com.au that his body was found outside the car but wouldn’t reveal anymore details.

“On arrival, police and emergency services have identified five people that were involved in the fire inside the vehicle. I can confirm that we have three deceased children under the age of 10 in the vehicle,” Detective Inspector Mark Thompson told reporters at the scene.

“We have another deceased adult male who was known to the children, and we also have a victim suffering extensive injuries that are also known to the children and the adult male.”

Rowan Baxter owned a CrossFit gym in Brisbane. Source: Supplied

It was later revealed that Baxter had posted loving tributes to his children on social media in the weeks before the tragic accident.

“T-R-E-Y. Love you to the moon and back #daddy,” Baxter posted on Facebook last week, with a photo of his smiling son.

Another picture of Baxter holding his young child was captioned: “Goodnight my babies. Daddy loves you.”

Photos show the fitness-focused family doing handstands at their gym, where Ms Baxter taught children’s CrossFit classes.

“My wife does a brilliant job with the kiddies,” Baxter wrote last September, sharing a post from the gym’s Facebook page.

Rowan Baxter pictured with one of his three children. Source: Facebook

Last month, he posted a video rough-housing with the children with the caption, “Sweet dreams my babies xo. Love you to the moon and back #nowords #dad #myworld.”

Meanwhile, a neighbour has shared a horrific detail about the agony Hannah Baxter was in during the incident.

The neighbour told The Courier-Mail a man who was outside washing his car when the incident happened rushed over to try to help Hannah Baxter as she jumped out of the car.

“She was awake and conscious and completely aware of what had happened,” the neighbour said.

“Skin was peeling off her, and she held her hands up … bits were hanging off. It was really quite horrific.”

After a brief career with the Warriors, Baxter transitioned into a career as a fitness coach in Brisbane.

A New Zealand Warriors spokesman said Baxter was in their NRL squad in 2005.

“Rowan didn’t play an NRL match. He was in our full-time NRL squad in 2005. He played in NRL trials,” the spokesman said.

He worked with Super Rugby and AFL clubs in Australia before he founded a CrossFit gym in Brisbane’s south with his wife.

“During the last 4 years a lot of my methodology is based and inspired by Ido Portal, a movement specialist and a true innovator,” Baxter says on the website of his gym, Integr8fit. In the Integr8 Movement class we start off with the basics and teach you not only the technique but help you improve your mobility.”