Inquest into the Suspected Death of PARBHAT
Delivered on: 13 March 2026
Delivered at: Perth
Finding of: Acting State Coroner Linton
Recommendations:
I recommend the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions consult with relevant stakeholders, including the WA Country Health Service and/or Department of Health WA and Telstra, to consider the feasibility of the installation of a suicide hotline telephone at the Gap.
Orders/Rules: N/A
Suppression Order: N/A
Summary:
Mr Parbhat was a young international student who had come to Australia from India to study and work. He had initially lived with his cousin in Victoria then travelled to Perth in 2021 where he settled into life and moved into a share house. He found work in a bar and enrolled in study as part of his obligations under a student visa. He would send home a portion of his earnings to assist his family in India when he could.
Unfortunately, over the next few years, Parbhat’s happy life began to unravel. While working at a bar and grill in Mosman Park, and residing in Bassendean, Parbhat was assaulted and robbed as he walked home from a train station one night after work. He looked for accommodation closer to work and considered buying a car but he could not find anything affordable. Parbhat eventually found a job at another restaurant, but his employment was terminated in May 2024. Parbhat’s student visa was also in jeopardy as his college enrolment had been cancelled due to poor progress in his courses and the authorities had been notified.
In June 2024 Parbhat moved to a new share house. He generally kept to himself staying in his room, playing video games, ordering in takeaway food and drinking alcohol. He had no income as this time and his bank balances slowly dwindled until he had no money left. It seems at this time he attempted a career change and attempted to find employment in construction or as a traffic controller. He signed up for traffic control training, rented a car and drove to Albany in July 2024 to look for work.
While in Albany, Parbhat was living out of his car. On 5 August 2024 he was seen in his rental car in the carpark at The Gap and National Bridge in Torndirrup National Park, 20km south of Albany. There were construction works going on in the area and a site manager who visited the site on 5 August 2024 saw Parbhat sitting in the driver’s seat of the vehicle, apparently upset. The manager approached Parbhat in the vehicle but Parbhat did not want to engage. The following day the site manager returned to the carpark and once again noticed the vehicle, but it was unoccupied. He conducted a brief search of the area and decided to contact the Police as he was concerned for Parbhat’s welfare.
CCTV footage from a camera in the carpark was checked, which showed Parbhat walking around The Gap platform around 6.00pm that evening and then returning to his vehicle. That was the last confirmed sighting of Parbhat.
Police were concerned for Parbhat’s welfare. A multi-agency land and sea search was initiated to cover all possibilities. During the search a tracker dog followed a strong scent from Parbhat’s vehicle to the cliff edge. A survival expert advised that if Parbhat had fallen from the cliff edge to the sea, either intentionally or otherwise, he would not have survived. The search concluded without any further sign of Parbhat.
The A/State Coroner was satisfied beyond reasonable doubt that Parbhat is deceased and he died when he fell from the cliff’s edge at the Gap on the evening of 5 August 2024 or in the early hours of the morning of 6 August 2024. The Acting State Coroner found the manner of death was by way of Suicide. One recommendation was made.
Catch Words: Long Term Missing Person : International student: The Gap: Natural Bridge: Torndirrup National Park: Suicide
Last updated: 28 April 2026