Mystery surrounds death of man found in Ross Lagoon near Waikerie
Police appear to have found clothing as they search a flooded Murray lagoon near Waikerie, after a man’s body washed up on Sunday.
Police & Courts
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Authorities are yet to confirm the cause of death of a man whose body was found in a lagoon near the River Murray.
Police found the man in the water at Ross Lagoon at Taylorville, near Waikerie, about 2.15pm Sunday afternoon.
A member of the public reported seeing the body in the water with police and emergency services including SAAS, CFS and SES called to the area off Taylorville Rd, downstream from the Waikerie ferry.
Police water operations unit sent out a boat to Ross Lagoon around midday on Monday and appear to have dredged up clothing from the scene.
It is unclear whether these items are related to the body found in the lagoon.
About 1.20pm on Monday one of two police boats returned to shore where officers unloaded several bags of material collected from the lagoon.
The water operations unit boats returned just after 2pm as police left the scene.
Loxton-Waikerie Councillor Ian Light said it was a double blow for the area after a nine-year-old boy died after he was dragged from Waikerie Swimming Pool unconscious last Saturday.
“It’s devastation again because it’s two in two weeks, which is unheard of really,” Mr Light said.
It is yet to be confirmed if the man drowned.
He expressed sympathy for relatives of the still-unidentified man.
People should exercise caution when going in the water, he said.
”There’s plenty of debris around in those back waters,” he said.
“You’ve got to be so careful with where you go and what you do and be aware of your surroundings.”
Local resident Dan McClelland told 7NEWS he spotted various emergency services including a helicopter, however didn’t realise the severity of the situation.
Police are unable to confirm his cause of death as they await a report from the coroner.
Taylorville Rd has been closed between Devlins Pound Rd and Twigden Rd while Murray Mallee police and detectives search the lagoon using a dingy.
Anyone with information that may assist the lagoon death investigation is asked to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or online.
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