Australian police find body believed to be of missing third hiker
The body believed to be that of a third missing hiker in the Australian outback has been found by police after an extensive search.
Hopes were that Claire Hockridge might be found alive after her two friends were successfully rescued a few days previous, but it now appears that hope has faded.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) ALICE SPRINGS POLICE SUPERINTENDENT PAULINE VICARY, SAYING:
"We have located the body of a woman today around 38 kilometres south, southeast of Stuart Well or about eight and a half kilometres from the east of the Stuart Highway. We believe that the person is Claire Hockridge. We have not been able to get a formal identity at this stage. The matter is now before the coroner."
The three had split up after exhausting their supplies with the two survivors; Phu Tran and Tamra McBeath-Riley having to resort to drinking water meant for livestock.
Sarah Hockridge is Claire's sister.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) SISTER OF SUSPECTED VICTIM, SARAH HOCKRIDGE, SAYING:
"We are all grieving and exhausted from the emotional rollercoaster that we've ridden over the past one and a half weeks. Even though Claire has died in terrible circumstances we are glad that Tamra and Phu have been found alive and well, and we're extremely grateful to everyone who's involved in that."
Police had originally hoped that Hockridge would be found alive after she and Phu Tran found water, though the pair separated some time before he was found.
