Inquest into the Suspected Death of George William LE VAUX
Inquest into the Suspected Death of George William LE VAUX
Delivered on : 27 May 2025
Delivered at : Perth
Finding of : Acting State Coroner Linton
Recommendations :N/A
Orders/Rules : N/A
Suppression Order : N/A
Summary : George William Le Vaux was last seen alive on 22 March 2022 when he was dropped by taxi near Swanbourne Beach. The taxi driver saw Mr Le Vaux walking down a path towards the beach.
Mr Le Vaux was reported missing by his sister late on the evening of 23 March 2022. Police attended Mr Le Vaux’s home and found no sign he had returned home since the previous day, although everything appeared to have been left as if he expected to return home. Mr Le Vaux’s nephew told police he had seen his uncle leaving the house the previous day in a black and white taxi. A missing person investigation began, with primary efforts centred on locating the taxi driver, along with checks at local hospitals.
The taxi driver was located and he advised the police he had dropped Mr Le Vaux at Swanbourne beach the previous day around 1.30 pm. He had been expecting to collect Mr Le Vaux and take him home later that day. He and Mr Le Vaux had both tried to call each other, without success, at various times later that afternoon. Mr Le Vaux had last called the taxi driver at 6.09 pm, but the taxi driver didn’t hear any words spoken. He tried to call Mr Le Vaux back a few times, but there was no answer.
Triangulation of Mr Le Vaux’s phone was authorised at midday on 24 March 2022. It showed Mr Le Vaux’s mobile phone in the vicinity of Swanbourne Beach. As search commenced and Mr Le Vaux’s backpack and clothing was found on a remote part of Swanbourne Beach at 8.50 pm that evening by SES officers participating in search. Police were notified and they came and searched the backpack. Mr Le Vaux’s mobile telephone, along with other personal items such as his wallet, were found in the backpack. Police also obtained CCTV footage from the taxi, which showed Mr Le Vaux wearing the same clothing that was found on the beach with the backpack. It appeared Mr Le Vaux had removed his clothing, entered the water and not returned to shore.
Consideration was given to commencing a marine search, but given the lapse of time and large search area, there was no likelihood of finding Mr Le Vaux alive and little prospect his body would be recovered.
A media alert obtained information from a few members of the public suggesting they had sighted Mr Le Vaux in the area, but all of them were investigated and discounted. Proof of life checks found no evidence Mr Le Vaux accessed any services after 22 March 2022. Mr Le Vaux’s family advised the police they had not seen him or heard from him since prior to 22 March 2022 and they believed he was deceased. The police ultimately determined the evidence supported the conclusion Mr Le Vaux disappeared on the evening of 22 March 2022, most likely while in the water at Swanbourne Beach.
There was evidence before the Court that Mr Le Vaux had been in a depressed state of mind for some time prior to his disappearance, due to the death of his mother, his ongoing significant health issues and the need to find a new place to live. However, there was no evidence to suggest Mr Le Vaux had an intention to end his life on the day he went to the beach, and no evidence he had planned his disappearance.
The Coroner was satisfied beyond all reasonable doubt Mr Colley is deceased and was deceased in relative proximity to the time of his disappearance. The Coroner was unable to determine how the deceased died. The evidence indicated he may have died as a result of a medical event (given his significant health issues), by drowning or potentially, though less likely, due to marine predation (although there were no reported shark sightings in the area that day). Given the circumstances of how he died are unknown, the Coroner made an Open Finding as to the manner of Mr Colley’s death.
Catch Words : Long Term Missing Person : Possible Drowning or Natural Causes : Open Finding
Last updated: 14 July 2025