Tragic cause of death of 6-year-old Airlie Montgomery revealed

The tragic cause of death of six-year-old Airlie Montgomery, who went missing on Sunday afternoon, has been revealed, with authorities believing she likely died from "misadventure" after a desperate search ended in heartbreak.

Airlie, who was autistic and non-verbal, was found in the Shoalhaven River at the base of a nature reserve near The Grotto, a popular cliff-top hiking trail on the New South Wales south coast in North Nowra. She had wandered away from her family home earlier that afternoon, prompting an urgent search effort that concluded when her body was discovered just after 6pm.

NSW Police have stated that there are no suspicious circumstances surrounding Airlie’s death, and it is being treated as an unfortunate accident. Her tragic loss has left the local community devastated, with Shoalhaven Mayor Patricia White describing Nowra as a “town in mourning”.

“Words cannot describe how horrible this is,” Mayor White told The Daily Telegraph. “It’s an absolute tragedy.”

Neighbours and community members, many of whom participated in the frantic search for Airlie, are struggling to come to terms with the heartbreaking outcome. Cathy, a neighbour of the grieving family and the last person to see Airlie alive, recalled her as a joyful child who often played near her parents’ home. “She was a lovely little thing, non-verbal, but a happy girl always smiling and blowing kisses when she saw you,” Cathy shared with Daily Mail Australia.

“Except yesterday she was crying, no one knows why… and then I didn’t see her. She must have gone over the edge above The Grotto.”

Airlie’s father, Corey Montgomery, visited North Nowra Public School on Monday to collect his daughter’s belongings, leaving with a bunch of pink flowers in her memory. Her mother, Katie Amess, was too distraught to speak, receiving support from neighbours in the wake of the tragedy.

The NSW Department of Education expressed its condolences in a statement, saying it was “deeply saddened” by Airlie’s death. “Our thoughts are with the family and all those affected,” the statement read. “We are providing support to students and staff and will continue to do so for as long as it is needed.”

Authorities have confirmed that a report will be prepared for the coroner to determine the exact circumstances of Airlie’s death.

As the community mourns, tributes continue to flow for the young girl whose life was tragically cut short.

Images: NSW Police