Payge Leembruggen, a 31-year-old mother from Mackay, Queensland, was found dead near the city's harbour four days after she went missing while visiting a hair salon. A year earlier, Leembruggen had posted on Facebook seeking housing for her and her five-year-old son who has special needs, following what she described as an escape from a domestic violence situation. Her death is under investigation by Queensland police, with friends raising funds to support the boy's care.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-17,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Payge Leembruggen, a 31-year-old mother of a special-needs son, was found dead on September 15 near Mackay Harbour North Wall Beach in Queensland, Australia. She had last been seen at Apollo Hair salon in Andergrove around 9:00 am on September 11. Emergency services were alerted when her body was discovered by a dog walker early Tuesday morning.
A year earlier, Leembruggen had posted to a Facebook group for private rentals seeking help after leaving an abusive relationship, expressing hope for a better life with her son. Her death has left her family searching for answers; they revealed a mysterious Snapchat message sent to her grandfather on the day she disappeared, stating she would arrange her own transport home from the salon.
Detectives are treating Leembruggen's death as suspicious until proven otherwise, indicating an ongoing investigation into both the circumstances and cause of her tragic passing.
Written for “Aussie Mum's Tragic Beach Death” on 2026-09-17,
grounded in this article and the 1 other(s) covering the same event.
A young mother found dead on a beach four days after disappearing had issued a heartbreaking plea for help a year earlier as she sought to build a new life for her son.
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she → find → son
Emergency services were called at about 8am on Tuesday after a member of the public found the body of Payge Leembruggen, 31, near Mackay Harbour North Wall.
Ms Leembruggen was last seen at Apollo Hair salon on Celeber Drive in Andergrove at approximately 8.55am on September 11.
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Leembruggen → call → September
Police say she had not been reported missing before her body was found.
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body → say → ?
In a Facebook post in June last year, seen by Daily Mail Australia, Ms Leembruggen said she was hoping to start a new life with her son after leaving what she described as a domestic violence relationship.
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she → see → relationship
'I am a single mother of a three-year-old boy with special needs,' she wrote in a group for private rentals in the Mackay area.
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she → write → area
I'm looking for preferably a two-bedroom place but would still be stoked with a one-bedroom.
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I → look → bedroom
I have recently left a bad DV relationship, lost everything and my current living situation isn't the best, but it's a roof over our heads.
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it → leave → heads
But we would love to have a place to call home.'
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we → love → place
The body of Payge Leembruggen, 31, was found on Tuesday.
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body → find → Tuesday
She leaves behind her five-year-old son, who a friend said 'was her world'
Emergency services were called to the Mackay Harbour beach at 8am on Tuesday
Ms
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services → leave → Tuesday
Leembruggen's friend said the bond she shared with her son was special and could never be replicated
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she → say → son
Leembruggen's friend Safiira Shah has set up a GoFundMe to help support the five-year-old boy, who she described as a 'non-verbal, special-needs boy with autism'.
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she → set → autism
The strength he has already shown is amazing although the journey ahead is one no child should endure,' Ms Shah said.
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Shah → show → ?
'He is a very bright, loving boy, but the bond he shared with his mother will never be replicated.
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he → love → mother
An incredibly sad prospect for any child to face.'
Ms Shah said he will be cared for by his great-grandparents and grandmother, with any funds raised going towards his specialist care and helping ease future financial pressures.
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funds → face → pressures
In the fundraiser, she also paid tribute to Ms Leembruggen, describing her friend as 'one of the most loving and empathetic' people she's ever met.
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she → pay → people
'She was always one to put others' needs before her own,' Ms Shah said.
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Shah → put → own
'She was as selfless as she was a beacon of light to those who had the pleasure of her friendship and knowing her mood-changing laughter.'
It comes as Queensland Police continue to investigate Ms Leembruggen's death after officers said she would travel from her Mount Jukes home, where she lived with family and her son, into Mackay to 'take up with associates'.
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she → have → associates
Police have appealed for information about her disappearance and death
She was last seen at Apollo Hair salon on Celeber Drive at approximately 8.55am on Sept 11
Police published an appeal on Wednesday for information from anyone who may have seen her between September 11 and 15, or who may have information that could assist the investigation.
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that → appeal → investigation
'We're trying to fill a four-day gap at this time and that's why we're seeking information from members of the public,' Mackay Whitsunday District Detective Inspector Emma Novosel said.
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Novosel → try → public
'The area where Payge's body was located, I understand, is quite dense and difficult to navigate.'
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I → locate → ?
Detective Inspector Novosel said an autopsy had been scheduled which would help determine the cause of death and added it was too early to confirm whether Ms Leembruggen died at the beach or had been moved to the location.
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Leembruggen → say → location
'We always treat an unexplained death as suspicious until proven otherwise,' she said, confirming the family of Ms Leembruggen were 'understandably' distressed.
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family → treat → Leembruggen
We're assisting them as much as we can.
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we → assist → them
'The beach is safe for everyone to use, we’ve got no concerns about the safety of the general public and using that area.'
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we → use → area
Ms Leembruggen is described as Caucasian, about 178cm tall and with brown hair.
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Leembruggen → describe → hair
She was last seen wearing a white top, bright red trousers and a red bow in her hair.
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Anyone with information that can assist with investigations is urged to contact police.
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that → assist → police
Do you know more?
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READ MORE: Horror as young Aussie mum is found dead on the beach after vanishing from Queensland hair salon
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mum → read → salon
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