Desperate search for missing paramedic who went hiking in 43C heat at a national park ends with a grim discovery
- WA paramedic Fiona Lavelle went missing while on a hike
- Police conducted a search at Cape Le Grand National Park
- Ms Lavelle’s body was discovered by police on Wednesday
The desperate search for a missing paramedic who went on a hike has ended in tragedy after her body was discovered by police.
Fiona Lavelle, 41, was hiking around Cape Le Grand National Park, which is 63km south-east of Esperance, Western Australia.
She had planned to hike at Hellfire Bay on Tuesday morning before the temperature in the area reached 43C that afternoon.
WA Police conducted a major search for Ms Lavelle and found her car, a Nissan Navara, at a carpark on the western end of Cape Le Grand Road on Tuesday night.
An emergency text message and a photograph of Ms Lavelle and her vehicle was also sent out by local police to people in the surrounding area.
Fiona Lavelle (pictured), 41, was reported missing after she went hiking around Cape Le Grand National Park in Western Australia
‘Esperance Police are currently searching for Fiona who has been hiking around Cape Le Grand and was planning on hiking at Hellfire Bay this morning (Tuesday),’ a social media post read.
‘She may have been in company with another female and is driving her Nissan Navara 1EVZ664.
Residents were urged to contact Esperance Police if they had seen Ms Lavelle or her vehicle.
Police found Ms Lavelle’s body on Wednesday.
They are not treating her death as suspicious and a report will be prepared for the coroner.
Ms Lavelle was a respected St John WA paramedic.
St John WA said its community was ‘deeply saddened by the events which unfolded today’.
Police found Ms Lavelle’s car, a Nissan Navara (pictured), at a carpark on the western end of Cape Le Grand Road on Tuesday night
Ms Lavelle was a respected St John WA paramedic. St John WA said its community was ‘deeply saddened by the events which unfolded today’ and ‘our thoughts are with the family and colleagues of our team member’
‘Our thoughts are with the family and colleagues of our team member,’ a statement to Perth Now said.
‘Our focus is on supporting our people and the broader St John community.
‘We offer our thanks to WA Police, the State Emergency Service and all those who participated in the search.’
Ms Lavelle’s family had requested privacy ‘during this difficult time’, police say.
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