National

Body of a snorkeller who vanished for five days found

By AAP Newswire

Jan 7, 2026

Warning sign on a beach — The remains of a man who went missing off a beach in Western Australia has been found. -AAP Image

The body of a man who went missing while snorkelling with friends on New Year's Day has been found.

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The 32-year-old vanished after he was separated from a group of divers off Ledge Point Beach, about 100km north of Perth in Western Australia.

His remains were found on Tuesday after washing up on Fence Reef Beach, north of Ledge Point.

WA Police said the death was not suspicious and a report will be prepared for the coroner.

The confirmed death adds to the national summer drownings toll, which has hit 31 deaths since December 1, with multiple fatalities occurring between Christmas and New Year across beaches, lakes and dams.

Last summer, 139 people lost their lives to drowning across Australia between December 1 2024 and February 28 2025, the equivalent of at least one drowning death every day, according to Royal Life Saving Australia.

According to the 2025 National Coastal Safety Report, the risk of drowning in coastal waters is 3.3 times higher on public holidays and long weekends, when beaches are often at their busiest.