69-year-old woman’s body found after 48 hour land, air and sea search at Galiwin’ku

The body of a 69-year-old woman has been recovered after a desperate land, air and sea search

THE body of a 69-year-old woman has been recovered after a desperate land, air and sea search.

Northern Territory Police confirmed the body of a woman who went missing from her Galiwin’ku, Elcho Island home on Sunday had been found on Friday morning.

The death is not being treated as suspicious.

The NT News has not named the woman at the request of the family.

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Acting Superintendent Michael Milde said for 48-hours Galiwin’ku and Nhulunbuy community members, loved ones, Territory Response Group, Water Police, Marthakal Rangers, Emergency Service members and volunteers and air charter company Nautilus Aviation battled challenging conditions to locate the older woman.

Supt. Milde said the search covered more than 100 square kilometres on and around the island.

“The community was very involved in the search and we worked closely together to try and locate the lady, but unfortunately the outcome was not the one that we had hoped for,” he said.

“Our thoughts are with her family and friends at this sad time and my thanks go to everybody who gave their all, searching in difficult and challenging conditions.”

Supt Milde said the search party was bolstered by the many local government and non-government organisations who assisted with things such as food donations.

Police will now prepare a file for the Coroner.