A man has been found dead with his hands bound by a belt near a nude beach in the Royal National Park south of Sydney.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The body of the 45-year-old was discovered by police in the early hours of Tuesday morning on a walking track to Werrong Beach, near Otford.
Werrong Beach, also known as Hell Hole Beach, is a designated nudist area but is listed on a number of internet sites as an unofficial gay hangout.
Wollongong police were called to the scene about 8.20pm on Monday in response to a triple-0 call reporting a fight at the beach.
They found the body about 12.15am on a walking track nearby.
It is understood the man's hands were bound with his own belt, the Illawarra Mercury reports.
A post-mortem examination will be conducted in the coming days.
Two Fairfield men were at Bankstown Police Station on Tuesday, assisting detectives from Wollongong and the Homicide Squad.
Otford resident Pauline Lacelles-Smith said she saw a police van with a spotlight searching in bushland on Monday night, but knew nothing of the death until the following morning.
"About 8.30 or 9pm we were sitting in the loungeroom which overlooks the road and I saw a police van coming along with a big light on top," the Otford Pantry owner said.
"They had a spotlight looking in the bush at the side of the road, towards the lookout where the walking tracks are.
"I kept a lookout in case anything else was happening ... living in the area you want to know what's happening and if there is any danger around."
Werrong Beach lies at the base of a steep-sided vegetated valley to the south of Burning Palms.
The NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service describes the spot as a "secluded beach paradise".
Access to the beach is via a steep, two-kilometre walking track from Otford lookout.
Police are urging anyone with information to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
