Four people reported missing from the state’s Far West have been found safe and well following an extensive multi-agency search.
The four people – two women aged 27 and 50, and two children aged two and four – were reported missing to officers from Barrier Police District yesterday -Monday – when they did not arrive at Packsaddle, NSW, after leaving Queensland the previous day.
An investigation began into their whereabouts, which included a major land search across Tibooburra, Broken Hill, Wilcannia, Packsaddle and surrounds, with assistance from the Missing Persons Registry, Queensland and South Australia Police, the Australian Maritime Safety Authority and volunteers.
A search and rescue helicopter found the missing family’s vehicle off-track, about 50km southeast of Tibooburra, about 4.15pm today – Tuesday.
The helicopter landed, and confirmed it was the Hyundai Tucson, with the four occupants safe and well inside the vehicle.
The family – Darian Aspinall, aged 27, her children – Winter Bellamy, aged two and Koda Bellamy, aged four – their grandmother – Leah Gooding, aged 50 – left Noccundra Hotel on Warry Gate Road in Queensland on Sunday.
The family were assessed by a paramedic who was on board the helicopter and are in the process of being airlifted to Tibooburra for further assessment and care.
