Fraser Island News

Aussie police search effort ‘absolutely minimal’

Last Update: Wednesday 22nd March 2006. 7:20am (AEDT)

By Sara Nelson

A GRIEVING Bromley woman has criticised Australian police after her missing brother's body lay undiscovered for two-and-a-half years.
Art director David Eason, form Battersea, was on a holiday of a lifetime when he went missing on Fraser Island, off the coast of Queensland, in March 2001.
The 46-year-old was one of a party of tourists at Lake Wabby when he separated from the group, saying he would be back in a few hours.
But Mr Eason was not seen again until his skeleton was discovered by another holidaymaker in October 2003.
Mr Eason's younger sister, Janice Eames, of Brenchley Close, Bromley, has described the Australian police effort to find him as "absolutely minimal" and says the family is considering suing the tour operator he used.
She said: "The impression the police seemed to be trying to give me was David had gone walkabout' or had killed himself.
"When I got there, I went on a footsearch of the island, which I later found out was the first one. The only other thing they had done was take a helicopter up but, bearing in mind it's tropical rainforest down there, they couldn't see much.
“It was disgusting, the level of effort they put into looking for David."
Mrs Eames added: "If the police had done their jobs, would David still be alive? We will never know."
At the inquest into Mr Eason's death held at Croydon last week, coroner Dr Roy Palmer said: "What is most significant is the failure of the authorities to find him.
"This has added to the distress caused to members of the family, making it much more difficult for them to cope with their loss."
Recording an open verdict, Dr Palmer said it was impossible to determine the cause of death.
Mrs Eames said: "Nothing will change the fact David is never coming home.
"The tour operator should have protected him and should be held to account.

"When David found himself in his predicament, he would have expected people to come and help him but they didn't. His loss has left a big space in our lives."