Sad end to rescue mission as Kakadu hiker’s body located after cliff fall, cops investigating

A DESPERATE rescue mission has ended in tragedy after rescuers this morning found the body of a 29-year-old man who fell from a cliff while hiking in Kakadu National Park yesterday.

Emergency services this morning found the body of a 29-year-old man who fell from a cliff while hiking in Kakadu yesterday

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UPDATE: NT Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of a man, aged 29, at Kakadu National Park.

It comes as Park Australia has released a statement in relation to the man’s death.

The man died after falling from a cliff while hiking in Kakadu National Park on Monday afternoon.

The body of the 29-year-old was found this morning.

His fall sparked a desperate search as night fell that involved police, Kakadu Park rangers, the local clinic and CareFlight.

In its statement, Parks Australia said its staff were “extremely saddened by this tragic incident which has occurred in Kakadu National Park”.

“Our deepest sympathies and condolences go out to the man’s family and friends,” it read.

“We would like to acknowledge and commend the efforts of those involved in the difficult and distressing search and retrieval operation, including our Kakadu rangers and staff, along with emergency services.

“Parks Australia is working closely with NT Police, Fire and Emergency Services to support their investigation into the incident.”

EARLIER: St John Ambulance Territory duty manager Craig Garraway said emergency services had received a triple-zero call in regards to a hiker who fell off a cliff while hiking with some friends a couple of kilometres away from the Ranger uranium mine site at 5.30pm on Monday.

“He’s appears to have slipped and fallen off a cliff of some sort,” he said.

“Emergency services have responded, including police and health services out at Jabiru, and at this point they haven’t been able to reach that gentlemen, that’s my understanding,” he said.

“They’ll be working quite hard this morning to try and retrieve the person.

“I’m unsure of his condition at this stage. People have been unable to speak to him and he’s fallen quite a distance.

“It’s obviously very difficult terrain out there.”

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A spokeswoman from CareFlight said they had been tasked to Kakadu National Park to retrieve the man but the search to find him, co-ordinated by NT Police, was still going at 8.20am this morning.

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