Margie Maccoll
An 87-year-old Noosa man died after he was brutally assaulted in Noosa Woods on the Hastings Street boardwalk about 6am Sunday morning while he was going for a morning walk and a 69-year-old man was seriously assaulted on Hastings Street around the same time.
Sunshine Coast Criminal Investigation Branch Detective Inspector Chris Toohey said a 27-year-old Queensland man was taken into custody, without incident, soon after, about 100 metres away on the beachfront and a crime scene was declared.
A 27-year-old Gympie man remains in police custody and has been charged with the serious assault of a 69-year-old man.
Police believe neither the 69-year-old nor 27-year-old men were known to the 87-year-old.
Police have launched Operation Victor Cord to investigate the matter.
Det insp Toohey said the 87-year-old victim was found unconscious, face up on the boardwalk with severe injuries to his face.
Bystanders assisted the man ahead of the emergency response, however, he died at the scene, he said.
“It’s a tragic incident for an elderly man going out for his morning walk,” he said.
“It is concerning a male person going out on a morning walk has sustained these injuries and died as a result of these injuries.”
Det Insp Toohey said on Sunday police were following various leads and searching the area around the groyne and a cordoned-off area around the boardwalk.
He couldn’t confirm whether a weapon had been used or located.
Detectives are appealing for witnesses to come forward and urge local businesses and homeowners near the boardwalk 1st groyne, with relevant CCTV captured between midnight and 6am, to come forward.
Officers are appealing to anyone who may have seen a man who was naked, or in various stages of undress, anywhere near the northern end of Hastings Street or walking into the Noosa Woods pathways between 5am and 7am on Sunday, to contact them.
The 27-year-old man will face the Maroochydore Magistrates Court Monday morning.
Investigations are continuing.