Body of missing man Dale Nicholson found

The body of a New Norfolk man who disappeared without a trace in 2016 – after leaving his house to buy a newspaper on his usual morning trip – has been found.

The body of a New Norfolk man who disappeared without a trace in 2016 – after leaving his house to buy a newspaper on his usual morning trip – has been found.

Dale Nicholson, 61, was reported missing by his family on December 11, 2016, with “extensive searches” carried out across the Derwent Valley and further afield in the Central Highlands where he enjoyed fishing.

Though YouTube channel ‘Downunder Dan Diving’ successfully discovered Mr Nicholson’s remains on Sunday afternoon “150 to 200 yards from his home”.

“We have found Dale Nicholson,” Bill said on the video uploaded on Monday morning.

“We found him here yesterday at 4.11 in the afternoon using sonar.

“We were able to confirm that not only was he in his vehicle with his fishing rods, but that he has been here for the last six years.”

Tasmania Police confirmed in a statement the body had been found.

“Police can confirm human remains were located in New Norfolk on Sunday evening, in a vehicle registered to Dale Nicholson, who was reported missing in 2016,” a spokeswoman said.

“Formal identification is yet to occur. A report will be prepared for the coroner.”

Dale Waverley Nicholson. Picture: SUPPLIED

Tasmania Police previously said it performed land and water searches with the help of specialist marine and search and rescue members at a number of highland lakes including Lake Repulse, Lake Binni, Lake King William, Bradys Lake and Tungatinah Lagoon.

In a coroner’s report released last year, it was found Mr Nicholson lived alone, but had a close circle of friends who found it “out of character for him to be missing”.

In his findings, Coroner Simon Cooper said he was satisfied Mr Nicholson was deceased.

“Mr Nicholson may have taken his own life, been the victim of homicide, died of natural causes or as the result of misadventure, but the evidence simply does not enable me to determine with any degree of certainty why and how he died,” Mr Cooper said.

SEVEN PEOPLE CURRENTLY MISSING IN TASMANIA

“I sincerely hope that further evidence is unearthed sometime in the future that provides some clue as to what became of him.”

The coroner said Mr Nicholson’s family had recently provided DNA samples to police in the event his remains were located.

Dale Nicholson’s car.

Bill and Dan found Mr Nicholson in his submerged 1993 Ford Fairmont on the east side of the Blair St Bridge in New Norfolk.

“It was very easy to magnet, it has a lot of metal in the vehicle. We hit the roof on the first shot and we knew we had a vehicle that was of an older nature,” Bill said.

“We’re just glad to be able to bring closure to the family. It’s a sense of relief for the four sisters that we found him.”

Dan said Tasmania Police arrived soon after the pair called them, with the retrieval mission completed just after 12am.

“The Tasmania Police came in and they spared no expense,” Dan said.

“They worked so professionally, they listened to us, they took our advice and it was an absolute joy to work with these ladies and gentlemen.”