Human remains have been discovered at a far north Queensland tourist spot in what could help police in the search for a missing Victorian woman.
Police divers recovered what appeared to be a human leg bone in Mossman Gorge after being alerted to it by a member of the public.
Divers were continuing their search while forensic procedures were under way to establish the origin of the remains, Queensland police said on Monday.
The discovery could be a development in the search for a woman who went missing while swimming in the Mossman River eight months ago.
The 54-year-old was last seen in distress at the gorge on 6 January while visiting the popular tourist spot with friends and was swept away, sparking a major search.
Sgt Matthew Smith said he hoped the development would lead to answers to what happened to the missing swimmer.
“We’re very hopeful that this may lead to some closure for her family but at this stage we have a fair bit of forensic DNA testing to be conducted to confirm that,” he told the ABC.
The idyllic Mossman Gorge, which can be treacherous year-round, was swollen with rain when the swimmer went missing.
Mossman River is known to be dangerous because of strong undercurrents and is prone to rising fast without warning.