🚨 Critical Incident Declared After Woman's Body Found

Wollongong police are investigating a critical incident after the body of a woman was discovered in a vehicle outside the Lake Illawarra Police Station on Friday afternoon. The 48-year-old woman was found in the vehicle about 4:30 pm on Pioneer Drive, Lake Illawarra.

Early indications suggest the body had been in the vehicle since Tuesday, December 2, 2025, around 6:30 pm. NSW Ambulance paramedics attended the scene but were unable to revive the woman.

A crime scene has been established, and a critical incident team from Wollongong Police District will lead the investigation into the circumstances surrounding the discovery. The investigation will be independently reviewed by the Professional Standards Command and overseen by the Law Enforcement Conduct Commission. A report will also be prepared for the Coroner. The NSW Police Force confirmed this on their website on Friday evening.

The location of the incident in Lake Illawarra, a suburb within the Wollongong local government area, has prompted a significant police response. Critical incident investigations are standard procedure in NSW when a death occurs in, or as a direct result of, police operations or in other specific circumstances to ensure transparency and thoroughness.