Missing hikers body recovered from Bluff

The body of missing hiker Lorjie Bautista was recovered this afternoon from Bluff Knoll.

Acting superintendent Great Southern Alex Ryan said rope teams and the Police air-wing helicopter recovered the body from the rugged and steep terrain.

“Our opportunity to extract the body on Tuesday was difficult due to the terrain and lack of light, we returned to Bluff Knoll this morning,” he said.

The police Tactical Response Group and Urban Search and Rescue rope teams retrieved the 39-year old mothers body from a rocky ledge.

“The rope crews were able to get to her body this afternoon and she was safely flown down by the helicopter,” Supt. Ryan said.

He said the body was located by the Police air-wing helicopter on Tuesday afteroon at the bottom of a steep incline in dense bush well away from the walking track.

Supt. Ryan said it was a sad conclusion for all involved in the extensive search.

“It is a sad conclusion but it provides an opportunity for the family to have some closure,” he said.

“It’s not a great outcome but now the family know she is not missing where they will always be wondering.”

“Her husband was at the Albany Health Campus this afternoon, identifying his wife Lorjie.”

Police and emergency services have laid a wreath at Bluff Knoll in memory of the hiker.

“It has been a sad end for all involved but he praised the efforts of volunteers in searching “arguably some of the most difficult terrain in the State,” Supt. Ryan said.

“We think this wreath is a lovely gesture, a lot of people have committed a lot of time and effort to this search,” he said.

“Everyone is impacted by something like this, it is a sad end for everyone.”