Authorities have designated an area as a crime scene following the discovery of a man’s body by firefighters who responded to a shed fire in Nambour last night.
Emergency personnel were alerted to the fire at a garden shed located behind a business on Howard Street around 7 PM. Firefighters quickly brought the flames under control, but upon inspection, they found a deceased man inside the structure.
Law enforcement officials suspect the victim to be 61-year-old Barry Thompson, a homeless individual. Due to the absence of formal identification and the condition of the body, they are conducting further forensic analysis to confirm his identity.
The authorities have informed the man’s relatives of the situation. It is believed that Thompson had been living in the shed for an extended period.
According to ABC Sunshine Coast reporter Olivia Sanders, Thompson had relocated his camp last year following an alleged arson incident. Recently, he was forced to move again as the area was being cleared for upcoming development projects.
This incident marks the second fatal fire on the Sunshine Coast within a span of four days and the third fatal fire recorded in Queensland, as two individuals perished in a separate blaze in Logan late yesterday.
Michelle Iselin, a Nambour resident who had known Thompson for approximately six years, described him as “a lovely guy.” She remarked, “[He] wouldn’t hurt a fly and was just always happy and always around town.”
Witnesses and neighbors reported seeing smoke rising from the shed on Tuesday afternoon but did not raise any concerns since Thompson frequently lit fires for warmth. Iselin shared, “It wasn’t flames… I didn’t even go in to check, didn’t even think to check.”
She continued, “Then last night after dinner, I was checking Facebook and saw there had been an explosion. This morning on my walk, I saw the police and was told we couldn’t pass through. Then I found out that, yeah, he passed away.”
Law enforcement officials are urging anyone with relevant information to come forward and assist in their investigation.
