The body of a man, believed to be the missing Indian student Poshik Sharma, has been found in regional Victoria.
Police in New South Wales separately said human bones discovered on the state’s mid-north coast last month belonged to Erwan Ferrieux, a 21-year-old French national who went missing along with his British friend in February.
The body believed to be Sharma’s was found in Marysville about 11am on Monday. Sharma, 21, was reported missing after he left the Duck Inn about 4.30pm last Thursday. Police said the death was not being treated as suspicious and they would prepare a report for the coroner.
Sharma had reportedly gone missing after an argument with friends. Police previously said they held concerns for Sharma’s welfare given the cold overnight temperatures. A dam was drained and a walking track and bushland searched to try to find him.
In NSW, police said a DNA comparison of human bones discovered at Flynn’s Beach near Port Macquarie last month “confirmed that they did come from the same male person” as Ferrieux.
“We believe from the DNA comparisons that it belongs to Erwan Ferrieux, a 21-year-old backpacker who was travelling with his companion, and went missing in the Shelly Beach area in February of this year,” Superintendent Paul Fehon said.
Ferrieux was last seen near Shelly Beach with fellow tourist, 20-year-old British national Hugo Palmer.
Personal items belonging to Palmer and Ferrieux were found by walkers on the beach in February. Their rental car, a silver Commodore, was later found in the car park containing other belongings, including travel documents.
Another human bone was discovered in the same area on Sunday, but police said it was too early to say whether it belonged to either of the men.
“We wouldn’t be speculating at all and we’ll be awaiting further tests to confirm that,” Fehon said. “This bone is from another part of the anatomy.”
Following the discovery on Sunday a search has begun on beaches in the area. “SES personnel will be assisting with a search later today at low tide, but at this point in time police divers won’t be attending,” Fehon said.
