Bodies of father, son found in outback
The bodies of a father and son have been found in Western Australia’s outback, three days after initial searches of the pair began.
WA Police said the bodies of 33-year-old James Dempsey and 66-year-old Ray Dempsey were found on Tuesday afternoon following a widespread search in the Meekatharra area.
The pair were first reported missing on Saturday after police were notified of an unoccupied campsite on the remote Polelle Station.
It is understood the men left their campsite to go prospecting when they went missing.
“Upon inspection it is believed the campsite is that of James and Ray and that they have
failed to return after prospecting,” WA police said in a statement on Saturday.
It is unclear how long the campsite was unattended before the alarm was raised.
The search for the men continued at first light on Tuesday, with land and air assets including local police, specialist search units, SES, drones and aircraft used to help locate the pair.
Tuesday’s search was focused on the area surrounding Polelle Pastoral Station, about 60km south of Meekatharra.
The deaths are not being treated as suspicious and a report will be prepared for the coroner.
