Royal National Park Waterfall Sydney: Skeletal human remains found in burnt out car

Police are appealing for public help after skeletal remains were discovered inside a burnt-out car in the early hours of the morning.

Emergency services were called to Waterfall Flat Carpark in the Royal National Park in Sydney’s south just after midnight on Tuesday following reports a RAV4 was on fire.

Police were notified and attended the scene a short time later as firefighters fought to extinguish the blaze.

When they closely inspected the car, skeletal remains were discovered inside.

The remains have been sent for forensic examination to determine identification, while a crime scene was established and examined by specialist police.

While an investigation is underway, police are appealing for any information from the public.

Police are seeking assistance and are looking to speak to anybody who may have been in the vicinity of the Royal National Park or travelling along the Princes Highway between Engadine and Waterfall between 6pm and midnight on Monday.

Anyone with dashcam footage or information in relation to a dark-coloured Toyota RAV4 is urged to call Sutherland police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000, or online.

Police have said they don’t believe the incident is linked to another similar incident 47km away in Sydney’s west.

Emergency services were called to Webb Street in North Parramatta about 2.15am on Tuesday after reports a hatchback was well alight.

Firefighters were able to extinguish the blaze before taking a closer look at the wreckage when they located a body.

Parramatta Police Area Commander Superintendent Barry Vincent told reporters at the time it was “too early” to tell if the incidents had any link to each other.

Police are also aware of reports a witness heard gunshots ring out in North Parramatta in the early hours of the morning and are urging anyone with information to come forward to police.

“Until we can determine otherwise what has caused the fire and the death of this person, we are treating it as suspicious,” Superintendent Vincent said.

He said the body was located inside the driver’s seat of the scorched hatchback but investigators are waiting on the results of a post mortem examination to understand if the man died during the fire.

Strike Force Askew has been established to investigate the circumstances surrounding the body found in North Parramatta.

The fire is being treated as suspicious.

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