A man's body was found in a campervan at a rest area on the New England Highway. PIC: NSW Police
The man who was found dead in a campervan at a New South Wales rest stop last week passed away due to natural causes, police have revealed.
There were initially some fears that the 55-year-old might have been the victim of a robbery. His body was found inside his campervan at a rest area parked near Goonoo Goonoo Station on the New England Highway.
Attending officers had observed that drawers within the van were open and a generator previously been seen at the site was missing.
However, a police spokesperson told the Grey Nomads that it had now been concluded that no robbery had taken place.
“The man died of natural causes and a brief is being prepared for the information of the Coroner,” the spokesperson said.
While travelling in Australia is remarkably safe, many grey nomads are understandably cautious when camping in remote areas or in rest areas.
Last September, a 42-year-old truck driver was shot and robbed while he was parked at the site of an old service station near Lithgow in New South Wales.
The truckie had been sleeping in the vehicle when a group of men forced entry to the cabin, and dragged the driver from the vehicle before shooting him twice in his right upper thigh and right foot. The group then stole personal items – including a large quantity of cash – from the truck, before fleeing the area in other vehicles.
The truckie underwent surgery for his injuries.
Four men were later arrested and charged in connection with that incident,
4 people don’t go and shoot and rob a random truckie. They must have known he had a large amount of cash. I’m not condoning it, but I’m almost positive it was a planned hit.
I’m sad for the chap that passed away but glad that it wasn’t because of nefarious actions.
I’ve had more problems in caravan parks than in the bush. Once it almost came to fisticuffs in a CP in Umina when I asked three middle aged people to stop their extremely loud rock’n’roll music at 2 am. They thought that I was being unreasonable. I have had my car broken into at one CP and some chairs stolen at another CP.
I have had some irritating noisy drunks at free campgrounds but have never had any security issues in those places despite the fact that I had on occasions some unsecured solar panels and a generator exposed whilst I was away for a few hours.
Still wonder where the generator is and people don’t leave their draws open
I feel unsafe camping every duck hunting season. Rest of the year it’s boguns, beer and bikes that tear up the serenity I’m searching for in the bush. 4WD destroying access tracks scare me. Will I be able to get out if there’s a fire or flood?
I have felt unsafe whilst travelling with my daughter and staying in free camp areas in South Australia. We know better, now, and avoud those places.
Can you please name the free camps please so we don’t make that mistake we live in SA so would like to know thanks Caroline
Caroline and Karen, it’s been my experience that the closer you are to a town the higher the risk of mischief from the local yobos. The more isolated spots tend to attract like minded folk that also want peace and quiet.
Look for tell tale signs like burn out tyre marks, excess rubbish and broken glass to make you wary of staying there.