Gruesome find at popular Byron Bay beach
Police are investigating after a human bone was found near a shipwreck off the coast of far north NSW.
The remains were found by a diver combing the wreck of the SS Wollongbar off Belongil Beach, a 2.5km stretch of sand at the holiday hotspot of Byron Bay on May 6.
NSW Police said Tweed-Byron District officers were called to the scene about 1.30pm, with police divers returning on Saturday to conduct a search.
The bone underwent forensic testing, which confirmed it was that of a human.
Further testing will try to determine its origin. The bone will also be checked against known missing persons.
Police investigations continue, and a report will be prepared for the coroner.
One avenue of investigation will try to determine if the remains belong to a 22-year-old Colombian man who went missing off Byron Bay’s Main Beach in March.
The man was seen entering the surf at about 5.30pm on March 1 and hasn’t been seen since, with his personal items found on the beach.
The Wollongbar, a 2005-ton twin screw steamer, found trouble alongside the jetty at Byron Bay on May 14, 1921, where it was wrecked close to shore while trying to manoeuvre.
Byron Bay is about 760km north of Sydney, or about 160km south of Brisbane.
