Body discovered at Gold Coast’s Palm Beach a day after grim Tallebudgera Creek discovery

Police have shared an update after a “sombre weekend” with residents stumbling across two dead bodies in separate freak incidents.

Police at Palm Beach Surf Life Saving Club on the Gold Coast where a body was found in the early hours of Sunday, July 20, 2025. Picture: Alex Treacy

Police have shared an update after a “sombre weekend” with residents stumbling across two dead bodies in separate freak incidents.

On Monday morning, Gold Coast Superintendent Brett Jackson expressed his condolences to the family of a man who was found dead lying on the rocks at Echo Beach in Tallebudgera on Saturday.

The shocking discovery was less than 24 hours before walkers found the body of an elderly woman who had died at Palm Beach at 5.40am on Sunday.

“It was a sombre weekend for many,” Mr Jackson said.

Police and paramedics rushed to the scene on Sunday morning after the walkers found the body on the water’s edge.

Police at Palm Beach Surf Life Saving Club on the Gold Coast where a body was found in the early hours of Sunday, July 20, 2025. Picture: Alex Treacy

Mr Jackson said they unfortunately have not been able to identify the woman, but believed she was in her 70s.

“We have not had any missing persons reports,” he said.

“We will now be canvasing CCTV of the area to find out the movements of this person.

“It’s our aim to, one, identify who she is and make sure family are aware.

“That’s our priority today.

“Very sad circumstances.”

Mr Jackson confirmed they were not treating the death as suspicious and believed the death was likely due to a medical condition.

Police are urging anyone who may know the woman – who was 160-165cm tall, was wearing black tights, a dark coloured T-shirt, brown woollen jumper, and a brown puffer jacket – to contact them at 131 444.

Mr Jackson confirmed they had identified the man who was found on the rocks at Echo Beach on Saturday at one of the city’s most popular beaches.

“We have contacted the family and are helping them navigate this tragic circumstance,” he said.

Mr Jackson confirmed the Tallebudgera death was also not suspicious and believed the cause of death was from a medical episode.

“We don’t believe the person was swimming but was for some reason on the water’s edge,” he said.

“Maybe he was looking at the water, and … or was just suffering a medical episode.”

DETAILS FROM SUNDAY AT PALM BEACH

A body discovered by passers-by at a popular Gold Coast beach early Sunday morning is that of an elderly woman’s, but cops have hit a roadblock in trying to positively identify her.

Police received a call for service at about 5.40am Sunday, with reports a body was located on the beach outside Palm Beach Surf Lifesaving Club.

The death is not believed to be suspicious.

On Sunday afternoon, police revealed the body was that of a caucasian female, aged in her seventies or eighties, with short, grey hair.

They said in a statement the woman is 160–165cm tall and was wearing black tights, a dark coloured T-shirt, brown woollen jumper, and a brown puffer jacket.

She was not wearing shoes.

Police issued a public appeal for anyone who may have information as to her identity, urging them to make contact.

The body’s discovery, which came just a day after a similar discovery at Tallebudgera Creek’s Echo Beach, sent locals into a tailspin on social media.

“Don’t let your kids down to Palm Beach this morning – another body,” one woman wrote.

At the surf club, local man Wayne, who asked not to provide his surname, told this masthead he arrived at about 5.20am as part of a regular Jeffo Boardriders outing.

Police at Palm Beach Surf Life Saving Club on the Gold Coast where a body was found in the early hours of Sunday, July 20, 2025. Picture: Alex Treacy

He said the woman’s body was fully clothed and was partially in the water.

“Two ladies were standing by the body which was lapping in the water,” he said.

“Police attended about 5.40am.

“Then the paramedics arrived and tried to resuscitate the body.”

Police outside Palm Beach Surf Lifesaving Club on the Gold Coast, where a body was found in the early hours of Sunday, July 20, 2025. Picture: Alex Treacy

He said he believed there were about eight police officers in attendance.

As at 8.30am, detectives from the Criminal Investigation Branch were at the beach examining the body, which had been dragged out of the surf and shrouded in a white sheet.

A trolley waits to collect the body. Picture: Alex Treacy

A trolley to collect the body had been left on the sand near a van from a local funeral home.

The body was cleared by about 9am.

The discovery was made a day after a body was discovered on the rocks at Burleigh Heads, near Tallebudgera Creek’s Echo Beach.

The circumstances of that case are also believed to be non-suspicious.

A police spokeswoman said, although that person is yet to be positively identified, the deceased was a man aged in his sixties.

Editor’s note: An earlier version of this story incorrectly stated the woman’s body at Palm Beach was found outside Pacific Surf Lifesaving Club.

Originally published as Body discovered at Gold Coast’s Palm Beach a day after grim Tallebudgera Creek discovery