Selwyn Malayta: Police divers pull missing man’s body from Ayr creek

UPDATE: The body of a missing man in Ayr has been located by police divers after a gruelling hours-long search of Plantation Creek.

The body of a missing man in Ayr has been located by police divers after a gruelling hours-long search of Plantation Creek.

Police divers in rubber wet suits with oxygen tanks began searching through muddy waters and thick vegetation at the creek for missing man Selwyn Malayta on Thursday and sadly found his body on Friday afternoon.

The 48-year-old man went missing in the creek at about 1.30am on Wednesday.

Police divers are searching Plantation Creek in Ayr for missing man Selwyn Malayta. Picture: QPS

He and a second man had been walking along Pool Street around 1am earlier that same day.

Then the pair tracked through a football field and the golf course before entering Plantation Creek between Kennedy Street and Edward Street.

His companion returned to the bank of the creek and called out to Selwyn, but did not find him, or see him exit the creek’s waters.

Selwyn Malayta, 48.

Ayr Acting Officer in Charge Acting Senior Sergeant Sam Pyke confirmed that police had located the body of the missing man on Friday afternoon.

“We extend our condolences to his family and loved ones,” he said.

“I would like to thank the SES (State Emergency Service), Queensland Parks and Wildlife, QGAir and all the police officers involved, for their vital assistance with this search.

“I also want to commend our police divers who worked in extremely difficult conditions to find the missing man.”

Police will prepare a report for the coroner.

Police divers are searching Plantation Creek in Ayr for missing man Selwyn Malayta. Picture: QPS

Originally published as Selwyn Malayta: Police divers pull missing man’s body from Ayr creek