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The body of acclaimed wildlife photographer Matthew Dwyer has been found at the base of one of WA’s highest peaks.
news.com.au
October 4, 201912:10pm
On Thursday night, searchers found a body at the base of a steep incline in the Stirling Ranges, 400km southwest of Perth.
Mr Dwyer, 51, was known previously to have visited the Stirling Range National Park to shoot its abundant wildlife and famed flora and scenery.
Mr Dwyer was known for his striking images of animals and birds, including native Western Australian fauna such as the quokka.
Friends became concerned for the father-of-three’s welfare on Wednesday when he failed to return from a trip.
Mr Dwyer had driven to Bluff Knoll, a spectacular high peak with abundant wildflowers, birdlife, reptiles, exceptional scenery and views of geological formations.
Members of the public found Mr Dwyer’s backpack and car keys, and his white Nissan campervan was located in the Bluff Knoll carpark.
A widescale search of the park overnight and into the day involved the State Emergency Service, police helicopter and drone and AMSA Challenger Search and Rescue Jet.
Mr Dwyer’s body was found about noon yesterday at the base of the main bluff, a 1090-metre-tall peak popular with hikers and climbers.
Friends and colleagues posted tributes to Mr Dwyer, describing him as “friendly and kind-hearted” and a generous teacher to other photographers.
WA acting Superintendent Alex Ryan said a coronial investigation would be conducted into the circumstances of Mr Dwyer’s death.
“Obviously, it’s not the outcome that we were hoping for, but nonetheless it’s still an outcome that brings closure to the family, and it certainly provides that certainty to them,” Supt Ryan said.
“They’re not going to continue to wonder if we couldn’t find someone actually on the mountain itself.
“We were very concerned about the changing weather, and tomorrow it looks like a significant front that’s going to hit the state.
“This area would be subjected to some strong winds and rain, and as you can see now the weather’s actually changing, so the timing was fairly fortunate for us in terms of finding someone up there.”
Mr Dwyer had a career as a photographer for more than 30 years, working in newspapers and then branching out on his own as a wildlife specialist.
Fremantle Herald journalist David Bell told the ABC Mr Dwyer was a gentle, kind and warm person.
“Definitely a fantastic photographer of humans and animals, as good as he was 0with a camera he was even better with people,” Mr Bell said.
“He’d come along to meetings where I’d interview people and he was there to take the photos, but sometimes he’d come up with better questions than I would.
“Very fair to say he’s beloved.”
One of Mr Dwyer’s celebrated photographs taken at Bluff Knoll features a quokka, a small marsupial favoured in tourist selfies for its “grin”, in the snow.
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