A naked body was found by tradies on Friday morning at the edge of cliffs in Sydney’s east, near where police were searching for the man suspected of killing 21-year-old Lilie James.
Workers at a construction site in the Vaucluse called police at around 8am after making the gruesome discovery, near the Diamond Bay Reserve, where officers had previously searched for Paul Thijssen.
Ms James, a water polo instructor, was found beaten to death in a gym toilet at St Andrew’s Cathedral School in Sydney just before midnight on Wednesday.
Thijssen, with whom she had been in a secret relationship for weeks, is said to have called the police. Some of his belongings were found on the cliff.
Authorities are now working to retrieve the body from the water, using a Westpac rescue helicopter and a police jet ski.
Police and emergency services are photographed at Diamond Bay Reserve on Friday morning following the discovery of a body
Lilie James (pictured), 21, was found dead with horrific head injuries at St Andrew’s Cathedral School in the city’s CBD around midnight on Thursday morning after her father contacted police when she did not return home.
Police are looking for Paul Thijssen, a Dutch-born former student of the school who served as a hockey coach
The body, which appeared naked, battered and bloated, lay among the rocks at the base of the cliff.
A police jet ski driver stood guard in the choppy rock waves as a police boat rushed to the site as the recovery operation was underway.
The surfski later returned to the shoreline, with two officers in wetsuits on board, while the boat remained on site and reversed towards the rocks.
A rescue team on the cliffs above then began rolling out ropes as an officer wearing a harness prepared to be winched down.
As Mrs James’ family and friends try to cope with their ‘eternal grief’, police are desperately trying to piece together the events of the tragic night.
Ms James’ family also contacted police when she did not return to her home in Kogarah Bay in Sydney’s south.
Thijssen later called Triple Zero and told the operators that there was a body in the school gym that they needed to investigate.
Chief Inspector Martin Fileman said officers were presented with a “confronting” scene when they arrived at the school due to the severity of her injuries.
A crime scene was also established near a coastal reserve near Vaucluse, in the eastern suburbs, where investigators found items linked to the murder.
Mr. Thijssen graduated from the school in 2017 and worked there as an assistant sports coach, according to his Linkedin profile.
Police helicopters and boats patrolled the coastline at South Head on Thursday and Supt Fileman said detectives were investigating the possibility the man had committed suicide.
The search was halted after Thijssen could not be located.
A silver Lexus sedan was seen being towed from Diamond Bay Reserve
A second crime scene has been identified at Diamond Bay Reserve in Vaucluse, where police are searching for Paul Thijssen
The pair knew each other but investigators were still working to determine the nature of their relationship, Supt Fileman told reporters.
A post-mortem examination will be carried out to determine the cause of death.
Detectives are talking to witnesses and combining CCTV footage from the school to determine what led to the murder.
Supt Fileman said the circumstances of the death would also be confronting for the students because school staff were involved.
“We are currently working with the school to ensure the wellbeing of the students and they have put measures in place to ensure those students are taken care of,” he said.
Flowers were laid outside the school, which will be closed to students until next week, except for those taking Year 12 exams.
St Andrew’s Cathedral in Sydney’s CBD was due to hold an evening service of prayers for the school’s staff, students and families.
“An area of the school that is off-limits to students is a crime zone and we are awaiting police approval before bringing everyone back on site,” a school spokesperson said.
Police were seen placing a pair of Apple AirPods, found at Diamond Bay Reserve, Vaucluse, into brown evidence bags
Relatives and friends gathered outside James’ home on Thursday, while her father Jamie James (left) declined to comment and said he needed to speak to police
“The only students on site are those taking exams, and we ask that the media do not attempt to interrupt their concentration or state of mind while they are taking exams important for their graduation.”
Meanwhile, online tributes are pouring in for the talented young dancer, actor and swimmer whose life was tragically cut short.
Lilie studied sports business at the University of Technology and graduated from Danebank Anglican School in 2020, while coaching part-time at St Andrew’s.
“There was nothing you couldn’t do, pretty girl. Fly high Lil, we will miss you forever,” said a friend.
“Lilie was the most kind, caring, funny and supportive friend around,” another friend wrote.
‘I could never have imagined that we would lose our friend under these circumstances. Our world is so cruel. Thanks for the memories and the good times Lilie.’
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