Esther Wallace’s final words to her mother, expressing her premonition of impending danger, tragically foreshadowed her fate. The 47-year-old spent a day with her boyfriend, and the couple ventured out for a moonlit bush walk near Orange, New South Wales, on 30 November 2022. They intended to enjoy the view of the city lights but soon became lost after mistakenly taking a wrong turn on the Federal Falls bush track.
As temperatures plummeted below zero, Esther, clad only in a blouse and tights, panicked and became increasingly disoriented. The couple argued about how to find their way out, leading her boyfriend to leave her resting on his high-visibility jacket while he attempted to reach safety at dawn for help. That marked the last sighting of Esther.
An inquest into the 12-day search for Esther’s whereabouts examined her tragic end, concluding that her death was not suspicious. The authorities recovered her body on 11 December, with hypothermia and dehydration identified as the likely causes. During the search, items belonging to Esther, including her blouse and a headband, were discovered, revealing a phenomenon known as “paradoxical undressing,” where individuals with hypothermia may remove their clothing due to confusion and delirium.
Emergency physician Dr Ben Butson testified at the inquest, explaining how hypothermia can cause victims to make irrational decisions and could impact search efforts. The authorities’ classification of Wallace as a lost hiker raised questions, considering her history of mental health struggles and recent drug use, which might explain her evasion of rescuers. However, Dr Butson noted her engagement in discussions about finding a way out suggested she was actively searching for help rather than hiding.
Counsel assisting the inquest determined that the search efforts were conducted appropriately and appropriately took Esther’s background into account. Wallaces’ mother, Lyn, lamented the tragic circumstances surrounding her daughter’s death, which she attributed to a “wrong place, wrong time” incident. “Esther was loved and will be missed deeply by our family,” she stated.
The boyfriend was ultimately cleared of any wrongdoing. A Judge Rebecca Hosking is expected to issue her findings in due time. This heartbreaking case highlights the challenges faced in search and rescue operations, particularly when mental health issues and environmental factors complicate an already precarious situation.