Body of missing male tourist recovered at Leliyn (Edith Falls) in Nitmiluk National Park

NT Police have recovered the body of a missing 57-year-old tourist at a popular Northern Territory swimming spot. Read the latest from authorities.

It is understood the man disappeared at the lower pool. Picture: Matt Thompson

LATEST - July 10, 12.15pm: Northern Territory Police have recovered the body of a 57-year-old man who went missing while swimming at Edith Falls on Tuesday.

The interstate tourist was last seen at the lower plunge pool of the falls at 3pm on July 8, when witnesses reported he struggled in the water before he submerged and failed to resurface.

His disappearance sparked a three day search for his body with NT Police deploying divers and drones.

Police said the man’s body was recovered near a waterfall in the lower pool close to midday on Thursday.

A police spokesman said they suspected his death was the result of a medical incident.

“At this stage, police do not believe the death to be suspicious and was the result of a medical incident,” the NT Police spokesman said.

“The Northern Territory Police Force would like to pass on our condolences to the family and thank the members of the public, Parks and Wildlife, NT Life Saving, Department of Climate Change, Energy and the Environment and Water for their support.

“A report will be prepared for the coroner.

“The upper and lower pools of Edith Falls and the walking track to the upper pool are expected to remain closed for the rest of the day (Thursday).”

Divers and drones deployed in Top End swimming spot search

Earlier - July 10, 8.30am: The search for a missing swimmer at Edith Falls continues into its third day as NT Police deploy divers and drones in the hopes of recovering a body.

The alarm was first raised with emergency services about 4pm on Tuesday.

A witnesses reported a man in his 50s swimming with his family had struggled in the water at the lower pool, and failed to resurface.

Police say they suspect the interstate tourist has drowned.

On the morning of July 10 police said the search and recovery was still ongoing, with various resources deployed.

“Yesterday, the floor of the Edith Falls plunge pool was being surveyed and live scanned,” officer in charge of the Search & Rescue Section (SRS) Senior Sergeant Paul Wood said.

“SRS has four trained divers who commenced an underwater search, keeping in mind visibility below 10 metres is approximately 0.5 metres.

“There is a lot of debris, rock, ledges, branches and tree trunks that is being searched.

“Marine drones and air RPAS are also assisting in the search.”

Sergeant Wood said police suspect the man suffered a medical episode, and did not believe a crocodile was involved.

“Once the male is located, an autopsy will confirm the cause of death, we suspect it was a medical episode,” the sergeant said.

“Parks and Wildlife have also completed a survey of the plunge pool.”

On Thursday morning, the NT government website showed all swimming spots and walks remain closed at Leliyn (Edith Falls), but the campgrounds are open.

More than 259,000 people visited Nitmiluk National Park — where the falls are located — in 2024.

Day two of search for missing Edith falls swimmer

UPDATED – July 9, 6.30am: An NT Police spokesman has confirmed the search for a missing swimmer at Leliyn (Edith Falls) near Katherine will continue on Wednesday morning.

Alarms were first raised with emergency services about 4pm on Tuesday after the male tourist became separated from the group he was with at the falls located in Nitmiluk National Park, 60km north of Katherine.

Northern Watch Commander Steve Rankine said search and rescue units would “continue the search at first light” on Wednesday morning.

It is understood the missing man is an Australian tourist in his 50s.

As of 6.30am on Wednesday morning, the NT government website showed Edith Falls remains open for day use, but the lower plunge pool is closed to swimmers.

It is expected to reopen on Thursday.

Search on for missing Edith Falls swimmer

INITIAL – July 8, 6pm: A desperate search is underway for a male tourist who disappeared while swimming at the popular Leliyn, Edith Falls near Katherine on Tuesday afternoon.

Alarms were raised with emergency services about 4pm after a male tourist became separated from the group he was with at the falls located in Nitmiluk National Park.

It is understood the swimming area has been closed, as emergency services respond to the incident – with search and rescue divers from Northern Territory Police Force expected to attend the scene.

The falls, located about 290km south of Darwin or 60km north of Katherine, are popular with both locals and tourists and reopened for the Dry Season in late May.

On the Northern Territory Government website for the park, swimmers are warned to always exercise caution and swim to the conditions they feel comfortable with, as depth and currents at the falls could be overwhelming.

Originally published as Body of missing male tourist recovered at Leliyn (Edith Falls) in Nitmiluk National Park