Coroner confirms YouTube divers located body of missing New Norfolk man Dale Nicholson

A coroner has confirmed human remains found earlier this year in the River Derwent – by a voluntary YouTube missing persons squad – belong to a long-term missing New Norfolk man.

Dale Nicholson, 61, went missing in December 2016 after he went to buy the newspaper. Picture: Supplied

A coroner has confirmed human remains found earlier this year by a voluntary YouTube missing persons squad belong to long-term missing New Norfolk man, Dale Nicholson.

Mr Nicholson, 61, vanished in December 2016 after leaving his house to buy a newspaper on his usual morning outing.

While his body had not been found, in late 2021 Coroner Simon Cooper said there was enough evidence to declare him deceased.

But earlier this year, after a search by a group of divers yielded remains in the Derwent River at New Norfolk, Mr Cooper reopened his investigation.

In his findings published on Thursday, Mr Cooper said he was satisfied that divers Daniel Prichard and William McIntosh had found Mr Nicholson’s body in January.

The men are connected with the Adventures with Purpose and Downunder Dan Diving YouTube channels, which run free underwater searches for the families of missing people.

Due to the age and condition of Mr Nicholson’s remains, the coroner was unable to declare his cause of death – but deemed there were no suspicious circumstances.

Mr Cooper noted the diving group contained some serving police officers, like Mr Pritchard, who conducted searches in their spare time.

American diver William McIntosh talks about how the Adventures with Purpose team located Dale Nicholson.

He said Mr Pritchard and Mr McIntosh initially searched Lake St Clair, having information that Mr Nicholson liked to fish there, but then concentrated on the Derwent at New Norfolk.

On January 22, they found a vehicle in the river, near the New Norfolk swimming pool and less than two kilometres from where Mr Nicholson was last seen at his home.

Mr Pritchard free-dived on the vehicle, confirming it was a dark sedan, before returning to find human remains in the driver’s seat and a fishing rod.

Mr Pritchard swam to the rear of the vehicle, cleared debris and removed the number plate – later confirmed to be registered to Mr Nicholson.

The pair called police.

A forensic pathologist found there were no signs of violence, but was unable to determine a cause of death.

The voluntary diving squad found Dale Nicholson’s car and his remains in the River Derwent at New Norfolk.

Mr Nicholson’s sister provided a DNA sample, which was matched to the remains.

Mr Cooper said Mr Nicholson likely died by drowning – possibly by accident after losing control of his vehicle.

“I wish to express my admiration for the work of Mr Pritchard, Mr McIntosh and the organisation Adventures with Purpose,” he said.

“I convey again, my sincere condolences to the family and loved ones of Mr Nicholson and respectfully express the hope that the discovery of Mr Nicholson’s body and this finding may bring some measure of closure.”

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