Mystery surrounds woman’s death near Henley Beach foreshore in Adelaide – sparking a police probe

A quiet beachside community has been rocked by the discovery of a woman’s body outside a historic apartment complex.

Emergency services were called to Henley Beach in Adelaide’s west shortly after 6.30am on Thursday following reports a woman had been found unresponsive.

The woman could not be revived, despite the efforts of paramedics.

Detectives and forensic officers spent much of Thursday examining the scene and interviewing shocked locals to try to ascertain how the woman died, which remains a mystery.

Police will examine whether the woman may have fallen from a balcony.

Detectives were seen scouring the second floor of Haigh Mansions, a state heritage-listed unit block built in 1921 by Alfred Ernest Haigh, the founder of Haigh’s Chocolates.

Officers were also seen examining a silver sedan parked nearby before it was towed away.

It’s understood a man is assisting detectives with their inquiries.

No arrests or charges have been laid.

‘Detectives are investigating the circumstances of the matter and are speaking with witnesses at the scene,’ a police spokesperson told Daily Mail.

‘There is no update at this time, investigations are continuing.’

Residents and beachgoers were shocked to find the Esplanade blocked off with emergency vehicles and a tent erected to shield the body from public view.

‘You realise straight away, particularly with a tent being put, I guess, over the body in the middle of this road, we expected it was quite serious,’ one man told the Adelaide Advertiser.

‘(I was) quite shocked at all that really, it really is a very quiet street.’

A beachgoer told Seven News: ‘I was surprised to see flashing lights. I wasn’t sure what it was first and I noticed the police tapes blocking off so I had to take a detour along the beach here.’

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact Crime Stoppers.