Police have been seen wheeling away a physique after a improvement within the seek for a person related to the dying of 21-year-old Sydney instructor Lilie James.
Since 7.40am Friday police groups have been trying to find the physique of Paul Thijssen, 24, who is needed for questioning over Ms James’ dying.
Her physique was present in a health club toilet stall on the high-fee St Andrew’s Cathedral College in Sydney’s CBD on Wednesday evening, with Ms James sustaining “critical head accidents”.
At about 12.15pm on Friday, police from the Jap Suburbs Police Space Command recovered the physique of a person from the rocks round Diamond Bay in Vaucluse.
It adopted an intensive search involving the Rescue and Bomb Disposal Unit, the Marine Space Command, and the Westpac Rescue helicopter.
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Whereas the person has not been formally recognized, authorities have been seen transporting the physique out of a blue forensics tent at about 3.30pm.
‘Heartbroken’: Dad’s tears for slain daughter
Earlier on Friday, the daddy of Ms James was visibly heartbroken and crying whereas talking about his “vibrant, outgoing” and cherished daughter.
Studying out an announcement to NCA NewsWire inside their family house in Sydney’s south, Ms James’s dad Jamie stated the household was “devastated and heartbroken by the lack of our lovely Lilie James”.
“She was vibrant, outgoing and really a lot cherished by her family and friends,” he stated, stopping a number of instances to assemble himself.
“We’re tremendously grateful for the assist of the group at this tough time.”
The household stated they might not be commenting additional on the tragedy, as a police investigation was below method.
“We ask that you simply respect our privateness and direct any inquiries to NSW Police,” he stated.
Neighbours moved by the tragedy have been seen leaving flowers outdoors of the James household house, with extra tributes to Ms James seen inside as family members confirmed their respects.
Police launch operation to retrieve the physique
Shortly earlier than 11.30am, a crew of police rescue officers have been seen descending into the rocks by way of a gully, with a stretcher stuffed with tools and bottled water.
Down beneath, employees in blue helmets and white overalls traversed the difficult rocky base as authorities continued their operation to get well the physique.
A retrieval operation started on Friday morning after a big object was noticed within the water simply earlier than 8am.
Involved residents from the prosperous Sydney suburb gathered outdoors their multimillion-dollar properties on Friday morning as a number of police crews arrived on the scene.
A Westpac rescue helicopter was referred to as in and rescue jet skis have been noticed scouring the water close to the rugged rocks. A police boat was additionally seen patrolling the bay.
The retrieval operation was impacted by the robust wind and tough surf across the space, with the Bureau of Meteorology releasing a powerful wind warning for the Sydney coast line.
It additionally warned surf and swell situations would stay hazardous till Saturday midnight.
Disturbing discover
Officers believed that Mr Thijssen referred to as them from the infamous spot “The Hole” to report that Ms James’s physique can be discovered on the college.
She was discovered inside a health club toilet on the prestigious college in what was described as a traumatic scene for first responders.
It’s believed that she was crushed to dying with a hammer, with police confirming on Thursday that Ms James had suffered critical head accidents.
New particulars have additionally emerged concerning the relationship between Mr Thijssen and Ms James.
The pair are believed to have dated for 5 weeks earlier than Ms James not too long ago ended the connection with the sports activities coach and assistant at St Andrew’s.
Earlier than her dying, Ms James was a scholar at College of Know-how Sydney. She graduated from Danebank Anglican College for Ladies in 2020.
She excelled at drama and sport, together with her mom Peta sharing quite a few Fb photographs celebrating her achievements that included successful an under-17 swimming match in 2019.
Mr Thijssen, who’s a Dutch nationwide, was a St Andrew’s alumni who had been a sports activities captain earlier than graduating in 2017.
The varsity stays closed as police examine the circumstances round Ms James’s dying.
“St Andrew’s Cathedral College stays closed immediately to all college students besides these sitting yr 12 exams, as the college continues to work with Police following an onsite dying in a single day,” a spokesman from the college stated.
“No college students have been concerned and there’s no ongoing risk.
“An space of the college, not accessible to college students, is a crime zone, and we await the approval of Police earlier than bringing everybody again on website,” the college assertion continues.
St Andrew’s Cathedral is a non-public day college for children from kindergarten to yr 12.
The Anglican college fees tuition charges as much as $36,770 a yr.
