Inquest into the Suspected Death of Hans Jurgen YUNGE
Inquest into the Suspected Death of Hans Jurgen YUNGE
Delivered on : 9 May 2025
Delivered at : Perth
Finding of : Coroner Urquhart
Recommendations : N/A
Orders/Rules : N/A
Suppression Order : N/A
Summary : On 31 December 1969, Hans Jurgen Yunge (Mr Yunge) left by himself from Roebourne to drive to a remote campsite where he worked (the campsite). A fellow employee also left Roebourne at the same time, driving a company truck. Mr Yunge has been missing since that last known sighting. He was 32 years old.
Since 2017, the Coroners Court has been finalising a number of files relating to the long term disappearance of people who had been in Western Australia at the time of their reported disappearance. Section 23(1) of the Coroners Act 1996 (WA) allows the State Coroner to direct an investigation into a suspected death where the body has not been found. The investigation must be done by way of an inquest in an attempt to clarify how the death occurred and the cause of the death.
Mr Yunge had migrated to Western Australia with his wife and young children in April 1965. In September 1969, Mr Yunge’s wife and three children moved to New Zealand as his wife’s mother had fallen ill. Mr Yunge intended to join his family in New Zealand by mid-1970.
Shortly before Christmas 1969, Mr Yunge began work as a foreman at a remote worksite 120 km south of Roebourne in an area known as Millstream.
As outlined above, at about 2.00 pm on 31 December 1969, Mr Yunge left Roebourne in a company utility (the utility) to drive to the campsite. At about 5.00 pm, a fellow employee drove from the campsite and saw the utility by the side of the road. It had at least one flat tyre and it appeared that efforts had been made to replace the tyre(s) with spare tyres without success. This was because the spare tyres were an incorrect size. Mr Yunge was nowhere to be seen and the employee assumed he had got a lift and had returned to Roebourne. As this employee had just quit work, he continued to drive to Port Hedland and never returned to the campsite. He did not become aware of Mr Yunge’s disappearance until about 10 days later.
Mr Yunge never returned to Roebourne and he did not arrive at the campsite on 31 December 1969. He was not reported missing to police until on or about 3 January 1970. A search by fellow employees around the location of the utility on 3 January 1970 failed to find any sign of Mr Yunge. A later horseback and aerial search of the area organised by police also failed to find Mr Yunge or any sign of where he had gone after leaving the utility.
The coroner was satisfied that instead of using the road, Mr Yunge most likely attempted to walk the most direct route to the campsite, a distance of nearly 20 km. This involved walking through shelter less spinifex in very harsh and hot conditions. As he did not have any water and the maximum daytime temperatures were in excess of 45℃ at the time, it was not expected Mr Yunge would have survived for more than a day or two.
As the last known reliable sighting of Mr Yunge was on 31 December 1969 and with no one hearing from him since then, the coroner was satisfied beyond all reasonable doubt that Mr Yunge died on or about 31 December 1969 somewhere in the vicinity of the abandoned utility in the Millstream area.
As the body of Mr Yunge was never found, the cause of his death must remain as unascertained. Although the coroner made an open finding as to the manner of death, it was felt the most likely explanation was that Mr Yunge died from exposure.
Catch Words : Long Term Missing Person : Land and Air Search : Open Finding
Last updated: 23 May 2025