- Woman found dead at a Sydney beach
- For confidential support 24/7 call Lifeline 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue 1300 22 4636
Police have declared the death of a woman whose body was found on a Sydney beach a self-harm incident.
The 24-year-old was found by surfers and swimmers at Mona Vale Beach, on the city’s Northern Beaches, on Thursday morning.
She had reportedly suffered multiple wounds and was covered in blood. Detectives initially called to the scene did not rule out the possibility of self-harm.
After further investigation, police have now confirmed the matter was a self-harm incident.
This comes after locals feared the woman may have been the victim of an attack.
A man, who wished to remain anonymous, told the Daily Mail that he awoke to the sounds of sirens sometime between 5am and 5.30am.
He went down to the beach to discover the area taped off and teeming with police and paramedics.
However, despite the area being cordoned off, the man was able to see the woman’s body lying on the beach with her black handbag placed next to her.
An investigation was launched after a woman was found dead on a Mona Vale beach on Thursday
Detectives were seen searching through a silver car parked on the beach
The beach remained closed for hours as detectives scoured the scene
Locals say the beach where the woman was found is a popular area for swimmers during the early morning hours due to its flat conditions
The man said the injuries he observed on the woman did not appear as though they could be self-inflicted.
‘It doesn’t make sense to me,’ he said.
The man said the area has become popular with transients as a new amenities block, featuring hot water showers, was recently erected near the carpark.
He said people passing through Mona Vale often camp overnight in the car park so they can go for a swim and use the bathrooms and barbeque before continuing on their travels.
While the new facility offers great benefits, the man said locals have been concerned about the lack of lighting at the toilet block.
He said has often seen a group of middle aged men lurking around the facility at night time, which has sparked safety fears among the community.
‘I’m a man in my 50s and even I have been intimidated by the men hanging out there,’ he said.
‘I can only imagine how daunting it must be for women camping in the area.’
It’s understood police have not ruled out self-harm
Cops were seen rummaging through a silver Toyota Corolla station wagon with a red P-Plate parked in the cordoned-off zone as they examined the scene on Thursday.
A thin mattress covered in a yellow sheet, with a bundled-up sleeping bag sitting on top, could be seen lying in the back of the car.
The Daily Mail understands the woman who passed away was local to the area and her family have been notified.
The area where the woman was found, called Basin Beach, is a popular swimming area for early risers and older residents, as the water conditions are typically flat.
Police remained at the beach for almost six hours on Thursday, with officers seen carrying brown paper bags up the beach before placing them into their vehicles.
Detectives dismantled the scene at 11am, with dozens of locals seen arriving at the beach as the car park reopened.
The area where she was found is heavily monitored by security cameras, with cops seen collecting CCTV from surrounding homes.
A report will be prepared for the coroner.
For confidential support 24/7, contact Beyond Blue 1300 22 4636 or Lifeline: 13 11 14
