3 days ago
Police locate bodies of missing Queensland couple in Tasmania two days after tourists suddenly disappeared
The bodies of a young Queensland couple who were travelling throughout Tasmania have been located submerged in a river, two days after the tourists disappeared.
Tasmanian Police confirmed the bodies, believed to be those of missing tourists Leannedra Kang, 25, and her partner Takahiro Toya, 26, were found near a crashed car in northeast Tasmania late Friday night.
The couple were reported missing on Wednesday, the day their road trip around Tasmania was due to end.
The pair failed to board their flight from Launceston to Brisbane and did not return their white Toyota Corolla rental car that same day.
Tasmanian Police Inspector Luke Manhood said officers had found a smashed car on the banks of a river off Tebrakunna Road in the state's north-east corner.
The bodies were discovered a short distance away.
'At this early stage, it appears they were travelling over a bridge when the vehicle left the roadway and ended up in the water,' Inspector Manhood said on Friday.
'This is a tragic outcome, and our thoughts are with their families and loved ones.'
Tebrakunna Road is described as a mostly unsealed route running through mountainous country.
Police stressed their initial investigations suggested the couple's death was not suspicious, but rather a freak event.
'Our initial investigations suggest there are no suspicious circumstances, but further forensic examinations will now take place, as is the usual process, and a report will be prepared for the Coroner,' Insp Manhood said.
'We would like to thank community members for their efforts in providing information to assist in the search.'
Police outlined Ms Kang and Mr Toya departed Hobart on June 3 and were to travel through Richmond, Ross, Bicheno, Bay of Fires and Mole Creek before arriving at Launceston.
Ms Kang's siter Cassandra issued a desperate plea on Thursday, and said the pair regularly took road trips throughout Queensland, and that this was their first time journeying through another state.
Cassandra said her sister's last known location was either North Hobart or Goshen.
"My 25-year-old sister and her boyfriend has been missing for 48 hours. We are currently lodging a police report," she wrote on Facebook.
