Tumbrella

New South Wales

Police have recovered the body of a 24-year-old German beckpacker who was reported missing on Monday in the Bald Rock National Park, northern NSW.

“We have found a body that is believed to be the missing German tourist,” said Inspector Rodney Shoesmith.

Police said it was too early to determine a cause of death, and could not say exactly where the man’s body was found and if there were any injuries.

The body, found by a search team at 11.40am, was still being retrieved from the bush, police said.

“Identification is not confirmed yet, but police have sealed the area and forensic service groups are on their way to examine the body and the scene in conjunction with local detectives who will then prepare a report for the Coroner.”

The 24-year-old tourist, holidaying in Australia with three other German friends, was trekking in the Bald Rock National Park in New England, when he went missing.

His friends told authorities he became lost at about 3pm yesterday afternoon, when according to some media reports, he simply walked down a path.

The man was dressed in shorts and T-Shirt and had no food and water.

Inspector Shoesmith said authorities were notified of the man’s disappearance at around 5pm yesterday. Police said the terrain in the area was rough with steep hills and cliffs and it had rained overnight.

The man was believed to have been of normal fitness for a 24-year-old, but did not have a “great deal of skills for the bush”, Inspector Shoesmith said.

The area where he went missing was quite rough, he said. “The terrain is quite rugged and hilly; there’s valleys in that particular national park,” he said.

“Where the walking tracks are it’s quite accessible but otherwise it’s quite rugged and hard going for the search teams.” According to Inspector Shoesmith, the four friends had been holidaying in Queensland, but had decided to take a trip to Armidale for the day.