US woman, 78, who went missing while bushwalking in NSW national park found dead after frantic search
NEW SOUTH WALES, AUSTRALIA: A desperate search for a missing 78-year-old American woman came to a tragic end on Saturday, January 14 after her dead body was reportedly found in the bushland on the New South Wales Central Coast.
The elderly American tourist, whose identity has not been revealed by the officials, was visiting the central coast on Friday, January 13 when she reportedly went missing while bushwalking. The officials were told that she was last seen in the bushland near Middle Head between Pearl and Patonga beaches. The local police immediately launched an investigation to locate the woman with the dog unit, PolAir, marine area command, Surf Life Saving NSW, NSW Ambulance, the Toll rescue helicopter, and Marine Rescue searching the area.
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The ground, air, and sea search was suspended at 3 am on Saturday and resumed later that morning when the officials spotted a body from the air, according to the Independent. The body was later retrieved by ground crews. Although the body has not been formally identified, it is believed to be of the septuagenarian woman. “The body is yet to be formally identified,” NSW Police said in a statement. “A report will be prepared for the information of the coroner.”
The disappearance of the elderly tourist was reported just two weeks after another woman’s body was found in central west New South Wales. Esther Wallace, 47, was reported missing on November 30 after she became separated from her boyfriend at 1.30 am while walking at Federal Falls in Mount Canobolas, near Orange, in the central west of NSW.
Her boyfriend reported she was missing at 8.00 am on December 1. He revealed they went on an early morning walk to watch the sunrise, which would have taken place around 5.40 am. The Police discovered her body around 4.00 pm about 1.24 miles away from where she was last seen in the national park. “It’s just a terrible accident, we believe,” said chief inspector David Maher, adding that woman is believed to have died of hypothermia. "Following an extensive land and air search of the surrounding areas, a body was located just before 4 pm… approximately 2km (~1.24 miles) from where the woman was last seen.’
Police sources told Daily Mail Australia on Monday, December 12, that investigators believed Wallace died as a result of a misadventure. "Misadventure has been a constant theory throughout the investigation," sources said. Police also noted that her boyfriend was not a suspect as he helped police during the investigation.