Body found at Gold Coast’s Palm Beach a day after grim Tallebudgera Creek discovery
Police have revealed new details about a woman found dead on a popular Gold Coast beach, more than 24 hours after passers-by made the “traumatic” discovery.
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Police believe a woman found dead on the sand at Palm Beach on Sunday morning had suffered a medical episode and was homeless, but investigators are still working identify her.
Gold Coast Superintendent Brett Jackson said it was believed the death of the woman in her 70s was not suspicious.
“It is possible that the female … was a rough sleeper and that will form a part of the investigation,” he said.
Supt Jackson said police would canvas CCTV in the area on Monday in a bid to identify her.
She was described as being between 160-165cm tall and wearing black tights, a dark coloured T-shirt, brown woollen jumper and a brown puffer jacket but no shoes.
“We have not had any missing persons reports,” Superintendent Jackson said.
“We will now be canvasing CCTV of the area to find out the movements of this person.
“It’s our aim to identify who she is and make sure the family are aware.
“That’s our priority today.
“Very sad circumstances.”
Superintendent Jackson said it was believed the woman had been walking along the sand and there was no evidence of a drowning.
The grim discovery came less than 24 hours after a man was found dead on the rocks at Echo Beach in Tallebudgera on Saturday morning.
Superintendent Jackson confirmed they had identified the man, who they believe suffered a medical episode.
His death is not being treated as suspicious.
“We have contacted the family and are helping them navigate this tragic circumstance,” he said.
“We don’t believe the person was swimming but was for some reason on the water’s edge.
“Maybe he was looking at the water, … or was just suffering a medical episode.”
The separate incidents were reported to authorities by passers-by who stumbled across the bodies.
“It is quite traumatic for the public to walk on the beach and see this occurring,” Superintendent Jackson said.
“It was a sombre weekend for many.”
Police also confirmed they have identified a 31-year-old man as the victim of a separate tragic incident in Varsity Lakes.
Emergency services were called to Main St about 7am on Sunday after a person from a unit complex located the male in the pool.
“We are treating this death as a cause unknown,” Superintendent Jackson said.
“We are still trying to ascertain the last movements of the individual.
“Our investigators will be trying to establish more information and are awaiting results of an autopsy.”
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.
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.”
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 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.
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