Upper Wilsons Creek resident Heather Scott dies in landslip: Inquest finds

A Northern Rivers woman tragically died in a massive landslip which engulfed her home, a coronial inquest has found more than a year after the record 2022 floods. Here’s what happened.

Heather Scott, 70, of Upper Wilsons Creek has never been found after a landslide smashed her home in last year’s record northern NSW floods. An inquest has now found she died on February 28 last year. Pictures: Marissa McEwan

A Byron Shire woman who was last seen driving back to her home during the 2022 floods tragically died in a landslip at the property, a NSW Coronial Inquest has found.

The hearing of the inquest into the disappearance and suspected death of Heather Scott was held at the Coroners Court of NSW in Lidcombe on Tuesday.

It was determined Heather Lucy Scott, 70, of Upper Wilsons Creek died during one of the horrific natural disasters which smashed the north of the state on February 28, 2022.

Ms Scott’s body has not been found.

The Forensic Medicine and Coroners Court in Lidcombe in Sydney. Picture: Gaye Gerard

State Coroner Teresa O’Sullivan found Ms Scott died when her home was swept away in a landslide caused by intense rainfall.

The record flooding across the region also claimed the lives of four others.

The inquest heard Ms Scott was last seen about 3pm on Sunday, February 27, 2022.

Landowner Thomas McEwan saw Ms Scott driving her Subaru down their shared driveway to the garbage bin on the road.

Ms Scott waved to Mr McEwan when she passed him on her way back to her home.

By nightfall everyone on the shared property had returned to their homes and did not leave.

Bronte Williams and Robert Beesly heard a rumbling sound lasting around 20 seconds between 3.30am and 4.30am.

Soon after, other neighbours Kristen Boddington and Jason Campbell heard a loud cracking and rumbling sound lasting for about three to five minutes.

Footage from Technomohicans Art of the landslide at Upper Wilsons Creek:

“The sound of the landslide was something you never forget that’s for sure,” Mr Beesly told The Northern Star.

“It happened at three in the morning so it was pitch black. It was pretty frightening.”

Afterwards, when all attempts to contact Ms Scott’s mobile failed, neighbours went to check on her.

Mr Campbell and Ms Williams found the communal driveway closest to Ms Scott’s house completely blocked by mud and trees. They then saw her house and garage were gone.

The land slip began about 120 metres up a slope from Ms Scott’s home and was about 350 metres long and 150m wide, the inquest was told.

A combination of boulders, mud, clay, broken branches and trees poured through and broke apart Ms Scott’s home, carrying it 100 metres down the ravine.

Its roof was the only part of the house left intact.

Ms Scott’s white Subaru was destroyed and left on its roof in the creek at the bottom of a ravine.

Authorities were only able to launch a multi-agency search operation on March 7.

Those involved were forced to search by hand due to unstable ground.

A landslip at Doon Doon during the 2022 flood disasters, northeast of Upper Wilsons Creek where 70-year-old Heather Scott perished.

Search Coordinator, Inspector Russell Turner called the search off two days in citing the personnel safety and there being nothing further that could be done using manual means of excavation.

Ms Scott had been a resident of Upper Wilsons Creek since 1998.

Although without children she was a much-loved member of the local community.

Described as “kind woman who was practical, strong and forthright” Ms Scott was seen as a pillar of the spiritual community who touched the lives of many people.