Body of 92-year-old man found in Alice Springs near pathway

NT Police are calling for witnesses after an elderly man’s body was found in long grass off the side of a footpath in Alice Springs, and have revealed he had a medical condition.

UPDATE: NT Police are calling for witnesses after an elderly man’s body was found in long grass off the side of a footpath in Alice Springs.

Detective Acting Senior Sergeant Toby Wilson said the 92-year-old East Side resident had been suffering from dementia and was reported missing by his wife on Wednesday afternoon.

“At about 12.20pm (on Wednesday), the man’s wife discovered that he was missing from the front of their residence,” he said.

“She had last seen him standing outside the front of their house in the driveway.”

Acting Senior Sergeant Wilson said the man’s wife contacted police about his disappearance around 1.30pm after a search of the immediate area proved unsuccessful. “Northern Territory Police conducted an extensive search of the area involving general duties, traffic operations and a specialist search co-ordinator, assisted by a drone,” he said.

Detective Acting Senior Sergeant Toby Wilson said the 92-yea-old man was suffering from dementia. Picture: Lee Robinson

The man’s body was found about 3.30pm that afternoon near a path between Burke St and Cavenagh Cres in Old Eastside.

Acting Senior Sergeant Wilson said the man had sustained some injuries, but police were not treating his death as suspicious at this stage.

“However, it is the role of police to investigate all reportable deaths and those include deaths in a public place and to rule out any suspicious circumstances exist,” he said.

Acting Senior Sergeant Wilson said there were currently no persons of interest in the investigation.

The area near to where the body of an elderly man was discovered in East Side, Alice Springs. Picture: Lee Robinson

“Police will continue a comprehensive investigation into the death and a report will be prepared for the coroner,” he added.

“Police have had some information passed on from the public and we appreciate their assistance.

“Detectives have managed to identify and locate CCTV in the area and are in the process of reviewing it.”

The 92-year-old was last seen wearing a blue short sleeve shirt, grey shorts and thongs. He was described as caucasian, about average height and build, and in “fit condition”.

EARLIER: NT POLICE are calling for information about a 92-year-old man who was found dead near a public pathway in Alice Springs on Wednesday afternoon.

The man who was reported missing earlier in the day on Wednesday by his wife was found deceased near a pathway off Burke Street and close to Kurrajong Drive in Eastside.

The caucasian male was wearing a short sleeved shirt with a singlet underneath, shorts and thongs.

Anyone who may have seen the man or have information is urged to contact police on 131 444 or report anonymously via Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or via crimestoppersnt.com.au.

Originally published as Body of 92-year-old man found in Alice Springs near pathway