Mystery as 2 Women Found Dead in the Ocean After Going on Walk Near Popular Tourist Town: Police

Two women have been found dead after going missing not far from the popular tourist town of Streaky Bay in Australia.

At approximately 11:15 a.m. local time on Tuesday, May 13, emergency services were called to an area near Back Beach Road following reports that “two women had gone missing in the ocean,” South Australia Police said in a news release. They confirmed that the women had disappeared “while walking the shallows.”

“A 67-year-old woman from Sturt and a 65-year-old woman from Streaky Bay were pulled from the water but could not be revived,” the news release stated. “Police are preparing a report for the Coroner after the bodies of two women were recovered from waters near Streaky Bay.”

Police have asked anybody who may have witnessed the incident to get in touch.

Despite the Streaky Bay area being the site of several shark attacks, a South Australia Police spokesperson told PEOPLE that, “There was no report of any shark involvement.”

Back Beach “is a popular surf spot for both locals and visitors,” according to the South Australia Tourism website. It is located around five miles from the coastal town of Streaky Bay’s center on the western side of the Eyre Peninsula.

“Beyond surfing, families love exploring the rock pools, making it a great spot to visit at low tide. It’s also an excellent location for beach fishing, with deep holes along the shoreline offering prime conditions for anglers,” the website stated.

However, they warn visitors that swimming at the main beach is “not recommended” due to “strong rips and persistent waves,” adding, “Strong, confident swimmers may access the southern beaches during low wave conditions.”

The tragedy comes just months after 28-year-old Lance Appleby died in a suspected shark attack while he was surfing at Granites Beach in Streaky Bay on the evening of Jan. 2, per the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC). 

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South Australia Police Senior Constable Rebecca Stokes said at the time, per the outlet, “I understand someone went out on a jetski immediately after the attack which is extremely brave of them and were able to recover the surfboard.”

“But there was just no sign of this young man, there’s just been no sign of him,” the officer added. “From what I understand of the terrain and the surf there, it is known to be frequented by sharks.”

“Police and Emergency Services crews will continue searching waters at Westall for the body of a man, believed to be the victim of a fatal shark attack,” police said in a Jan. 3 news release.

Credit: dotdashmeredith.com