Police search for answers after tourist vanishes during two-hour window

Northern Territory Police are searching Edith Falls for a 61-year-old tourist who disappeared during a two-hour window on Sunday.

Dominic O’Connell was last seen near the lower plunge pool at the popular water hole in Nitmiluk National Park, outside Katherine and about 300 kilometres south of Darwin. He had been visiting the area with his wife.

Police describe Mr O’Connell as Caucasian, about six feet tall and slim, with shoulder-length brown and white hair and a short beard. He was wearing dark blue prescription glasses, white shorts with a black and blue pattern, and no shirt. He also has distinctive tattoos on both shoulders.

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Police and Parks and Wildlife NT rangers have conducted an extensive search of the area using a range of resources but have so far been unable to locate Dominic.

Police divers were due to begin searching the water, after police and Parks and Wildlife NT rangers conducted an extensive search using a range of resources. The lower plunge pool has been closed to the public, although Edith Falls remains open. Police want to speak with anyone who was in or around the pool between 1pm and 3pm on Sunday.

The search comes after other disappearances at the site. A 57-year-old tourist went missing in July last year and was later found dead in the lower pool. In 2018, a search failed to locate 67-year-old Queensland man Alex Rosenberg, who disappeared from the area.

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While Edith Falls remains open today, the lower plunge pool is closed to the public and is only accessible to members involved in the search.