Inquest into the Death of David CULLEN

Inquest into the Death of David CULLEN

Delivered on : 5 September 2019

Delivered at : Perth

Finding of : Coroner Vicker

Recommendations : N/A

Orders/Rules : N/A

Suppression Order : N/A

Summary : The deceased at the time of his death was 69 years of age when he was last seen on 14 January 1972 at a water hole a quarter of a mile on the upstream side of the North West Coastal Highway Crossing on the Fortescue River, by his family.

The deceased was travelling by car with his daughter, son-in-law and grandson from Dampier to Perth. The family were relocating to Queensland. The family stopped for a break on the Murchison River and parked near a water hole. The deceased went for a walk with their two dogs and sometime later the dogs returned alone. The family searched for the deceased but failed to find hi. The family remained at the location for a further two days and then continued on their journey to Queensland.

The deceased’s disappearance was reported to the Roebourne Police who coordinated a search to locate the deceased, including using the service of an Aboriginal tracker from Mardi Station. The search also used the services of a commercial pilot in a small plane to fly over the terrain around the area of the water hole. The search failed to find any trace of the deceased.

The Coroner found the deceased died on or about 14 January 1972 in the vicinity of the water hole on the Fortescue River upstream from the road crossing.

Catch Words : Missing Person : Open Finding.

Last updated: 1-Oct-2019

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