Final moments of Airlie Montgomery, 6, before she disappeared as urgent search comes to a grim end

A six-year-old girl who was found dead following an urgent search was spotted running around on the street hours before she disappeared. 

Airlie Montgomery was last seen in the NSW South Coast town of North Nowra at 2.15pm on Sunday.

Police were immediately concerned for the her wellbeing due to her young age and several medical conditions.

About 100 community members joined the search for the little girl, who wore a pink jumpsuit and no shoes.

A body, believed to be Airlie’s remains, was found four hours after she was reported missing in bushland.

Krishnan, a local from North Nowra, was one of the dozens who helped search for the six-year-old.

He told the ABC he saw the little girl running along a housing estate on Sunday morning.

‘I feel very sad for the passing of a six-year-old girl,’ Krishnan said.

‘This morning I was sitting on the bench there and saying a prayer for her and saying bye-bye to her.’ 

It’s understood Airlie went missing near The Grotto Walk, a hiking area with cliff-top views.

Krishnan returned home as it was getting dark and heard helicopters continue the search.

‘There were two helicopters; one arriving around 12 o’clock and a police helicopter at 5pm,’ he said.

NSW Police are not treating Airlie’s death as suspicious, instead it believes her death was a case of misadventure.

A report will be prepared for the coroner. 

Shoalhaven mayor Patricia White said Nowra is a ‘town in mourning’ following news of the body’s discovery.

‘This is just an absolute tragedy,’ she told the Daily Telegraph. 

‘Hold your kids tight, chat to your neighbours to see if they’re okay.’

Several others shared their grief online, describing Airlie’s death as ‘unfair’.

‘Incredibly sad. Fly high Airlie,’ one wrote.

‘My heart is broken for the family and her many friends,’ another said.