Anthony George, St Georges Basin: Family appeal for information after ‘suspicious’ death
Police have set up a strike force to investigate the mysterious death of father-of-four Anthony George, who was found dead face down in St Georges Basin, on the South Coast.
The South Coast News
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Detectives have formed a strike force to investigate the suspicious death of father-of-four Anthony Thomas George who was found in St George Basin on Wednesday.
South Coast Police District superintendent Greg Moore has announced Strike Force Wilkin has been formed to investigate the man’s death.
Emergency services were called to a property off Island Point Road shortly after 9am on Wednesday following reports the body of a man was found floating face down in the water behind a house.
Mr George, of Batemans Bay, was believed to have been staying with relatives in the area prior to his death.
Officers are now trying to piece together the man’s final movements, and are appealing for anyone who may have seen him between the hours of 2am and 9am on Wednesday or had been in contact with him between Tuesday and Thursday.
The cause of death has not been confirmed by police, he told reporters on Friday.
“Obviously we are keeping an open mind and obviously interested to get feedback from anyone who has had contact with the male in the hours prior to his death,” Supt Moore said.
“We’ll know more once we’re in a position to have the postmortem completed.”
It’s understood that Mr George was in the area of Idlewild Avenue in Sanctuary Point on Tuesday evening.
“We’re very interested to hear from anyone who may have had contact with this person in the St Georges Basin or Sanctuary Point area,” Supt Moore said.
Mr George’s grieving family is also pleading with anyone with information about his final hours to come forward to police.
His sister Teanne George said he would be greatly missed and encouraged anyone with information about her brother to contact police or Crimestoppers.
“He was turning 32 on Sunday. He has four beautiful kids and a wonderful supportive girlfriend of 7 years,” she said.
“We just want to know the truth about his final hours.”
Family and friends have posted tributes to George on social media. His cousin said she was in shock when she heard the devastating news.
She described him as fun, a joker and the “always had the biggest heart”.
Another cousin shared a Bay and Basin Police Station Post about the incident, urging anyone with information to contact Crimestoppers. Another relative said “RIP my baby cousin. I hope they find out wit (sic) happened to you.”
Many followers offered their condolences to the deceased’s family.
Officers from South Coast Police District established a crime scene and started investigations.
Mr George is described as being of caucasian appearance, approximately 170cm tall, with short brown hair.
He was found wearing dark pants, blue shoes and a black long sleeve shirt with circular symbols on the front and rear shoulder.
A St Georges Basin resident, who wished to remain anonymous, said kayakers discovered the man’s body.
The woman said the area near Blackett Park was a common spot for swimmers.
When the South Coast News visited on Wednesday afternoon, police had left the seen but latex gloves had been left at the seen.
A report will be prepared for NSW Coroner.
As investigations into the man’s death continue, NSW police urge anyone with information or who saw anything suspicious to contact South Coast police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.