The heart-wrenching story of six-year-old Airlie Montgomery’s death has left a small NSW community in shock.
Airlie’s family recently visited her school to gather her belongings, still coming to terms with the tragedy that unfolded.
A Young Girl’s Disappearance
Airlie, who had several medical conditions and was non-verbal, was last seen on Sunday afternoon in the town of North Nowra.
At 2:15 p.m., she wandered off near the bushwalk cliff known as The Grotto Walk, an area famous for its cliff-top views.
Despite being so close to home, just 800 meters from the cliff’s edge, her family quickly realized something was terribly wrong when she failed to return.
The police were immediately alerted, and concerns mounted due to Airlie’s age and medical conditions.
Four hours later, her body was discovered in a waterway beneath the cliffs.
Authorities are not treating her death as suspicious and believe it to be a tragic accident.
The Search for Airlie and Community Support
A neighbor, Cathy, who had seen Airlie earlier that day, recounted how she was the last to see the young girl before she wandered off.
Cathy explained that Airlie was a happy child, often playing outside, but on that day, something seemed off. “She was crying, and then I didn’t see her,” Cathy said.
She and other community members immediately began searching for the missing girl.
Tragically, it was later confirmed that Airlie had fallen off the cliff.
Cathy revealed that the cause of death was believed to be a broken neck, a fact that has left the community grieving deeply.
The Family’s Heartbreak and the Community’s Outpouring of Grief
Airlie’s parents, Corey Montgomery and Katie Amess, have been devastated by their loss.
On Monday, Corey visited Airlie’s school to collect her belongings, carrying a small bouquet of pink flowers.
Katie, unable to speak due to her heartbreak, was consoled by a neighbor as she struggled with the overwhelming grief.
Krishnan, a local volunteer who helped search for Airlie, shared his sadness after witnessing the search unfold.
“I feel very sad for the passing of a six-year-old girl,” he said.
Many residents joined in the search efforts, offering their help, but the tragic outcome left the community reeling.
A Community in Mourning
Shoalhaven’s mayor, Patricia White, expressed her sorrow, stating that Nowra is a town in mourning after the tragic discovery. “This is just an absolute tragedy,” she told the Daily Telegraph.
The overwhelming grief was also shared online by many who had known Airlie or had been touched by the story.
The death of such a young child was described by many as “unfair” and heartbreaking.
School and Community Support
The NSW Department of Education released a statement expressing their condolences, stating that they were providing support to both students and staff affected by the tragedy.
“We are deeply saddened by this tragedy, and our thoughts are with the family and all those affected,” the statement read.
The tragic passing of young Airlie Montgomery will be reported to the coroner as investigations into the circumstances surrounding her death continue.
This heartbreaking event has shaken the community, leaving everyone searching for ways to cope with the loss of a bright, smiling young girl whose life was cut tragically short.