Man, woman in their 60s found dead after gold hunt in remote North Qld

Two experienced prospectors were found dead at a North Queensland goldfield after they are believed to have become lost in the heat while walking back to their accommodation.

The couple were staying at the Croydon Caravan Park.

Two experienced prospectors were found dead at a North Queensland goldfield after they are believed to have become lost in the heat while walking back to their accommodation.

The bodies of Toowoomba geoscientist Garry Edser, 65, and 69-year-old Sydney woman Kristine Starr, were found by a search-and-rescue team just 2.5km from their car, which they’d left at the Croydon Caravan Park, 500km west of Cairns in a remote area of North West Queensland.

The pair, who were regular visitors to the area, left the caravan park on Sunday and walked into Esmerelda Station.

It is understood the caravan park alerted police on Monday when the couple failed to return.

Staff had become concerned after spotting their personal possessions, including mobile phones, inside their car.

Garry Edser, 65, was found dead along with his prospecting companion.

A massive search was launched, including general duties officers on horseback and motorbikes, officers from the Stock Squad and State Emergency Services volunteers.

The Rescue 510 helicopter searched from the air and local mustering helicopters volunteered to help.

A mustering helicopter is believed to have spotted the pair around 5pm Wednesday.

Croydon has a dry season that lasts from April to November, with temperatures reaching into the high 30s earlier this week.

“Police conducted an extensive land and air search over the remote area which sadly resulted in locating the pair deceased,” Search and Rescue Coordinator Sergeant Winfried Weiss said.

It is believed Mr Edser and Ms Starr followed the wrong gully while trying to return to their car and became lost.

The caravan park posted about the tragic discovery on their social media account.

“So sad to hear the news – two of our regular guests were found deceased this afternoon. Our condolences go to family, friends and loved ones,” the post said.

Business records show Mr Edser and Ms Starr jointly own a Toowoomba-based company called Finrank that offered mapping, geological and data analysis services as well as mineral identification services to Darling Downs and Lockyer Valley clients.

The company’s website boasted “over 40 years experience” as well as “postgraduate qualifications in earth science”.

The Finrank website also contained a page for another company called MollyRex Pty Ltd, also jointly owned by Mr Edser and Ms Starr, described as a private mineral exploration company.

The bodies were found after a search at Croydon.

“Invest in our gold field,” the website said.

“We own the historic Esmerelda Gold Field in North West Queensland and welcome investors.”

The tenement application is centred over the old Esmeralda Goldfield, 77km south east of the town of Croydon in North West Queensland. A previous titleholder, Luton Resources, quoted a possible ore reserve…”

Mr Edser’s LinkedIn profile described him as a “qualified geoscientist with postgraduate qualifications in geoscience and data science”.

Mr Edser commented on a LinkedIn post a week ago celebrating coal mining in Queensland with: “Go Nick … I am back in Croydon this week.”

Originally published as Man, woman in their 60s found dead after gold hunt in remote North Qld