Body of "loner" discovered more than a week after death
Police News
A backpacker who triggered the gruesome discovery of the body of a man who had died at least seven days earlier says the “horrible circumstances in the heart of Port Douglas” were the result of an apathetic welfare system.
The woman called in a welfare check, the property managers of the Property Shop managed boarding accommodation in Macrossan Street making the gruesome discovery on Wednesday afternoon.
The backpacker contacted Newsport in the early hours of Thursday morning, following the removal of the man’s body. An autopsy will be conducted on the man, who is estimated to be aged in his 40s and who moved into the accommodation in late July this year.
“I need to talk to you about something that’s happened here in the heart of Port Douglas… a man lost his life due to horrible circumstances,” the woman, Bianca, wrote to Newsport.
“Someone died because of ill and mismanagement of his condition.
“He was placed in community housing with no help, no family care… nothing.
“I called up for a welfare check to find out he’s been dead for up to 11 days and no-one but myself even checked.”
Police were on scene for several hours on Wednesday, November 11, with the room in the complex sealed and under police custody.
A small posy of flowers sits at the door of the room.
Property Shop principal Alan Crossman said the circumstances had been upsetting for his property managers who had made the discovery when conducting the welfare check.
“One of the other parties staying at the property made the call for a welfare check. My property managers went down there and discovered the man’s body,” Mr Crossman said.
“It appears he had been dead for some days, possibly over a week.”
Mr Crossman clarified that the man was not in an assisted rent arrangement and while he was on welfare, his rent was up to date.
“He was a single guy, living alone in a boarding house… those circumstances are where this kind of tragic situation might happen,” Mr Crossman said.
“We don’t know much about him. He didn’t appear to work and we don’t have any details of a next of kin.
“He was a loner but police have said they had an awareness of him.”
Residents in the street early this morning reacted to the news with shock.
“You hear about this happening in the city, but not here,” one woman said.
“Port Douglas is a place that has people from one extreme of wealth to another.”
It is understood the person was living in the accommodation as a community-housing arrangement.
