Airlie Montgomery: NSW Police disclose details of little girl’s death as town rally around family in Nowra

A small town community has shown an outpouring of grief after six-year-old Airlie Montgomery’s body was found in waters at a popular bushwalking area of the NSW South Coast.

Neighbours and locals have shared stories of the little girl who would wave hello and blow kisses to them as they moved past her front yard, expressing the sadness they feel after her loss.

Investigators confirmed on Monday that the six-year-old girl, who was non-verbal and autistic, was last seen on CCTV wandering away from her home before her body was later found in water near The Grotto Walk.

The Grotto Walk, a popular bushwalking track with clifftop views around 800m from Airlie’s home, is now covered in flowers and cards in her memory.

NSW Police confirmed the little girl’s death is being treated as a tragic accident and have no reason to believe she was the victim of a crime.

Video showing Airlie wandering through the streets of North Nowra at about 2.15pm on Sunday afternoon wearing a pink jumpsuit are the last images of the little girl, before she was reported missing and a frantic search was initiated.

Airlie’s body was located at around 6pm during the frantic search involving available emergency services and helicopter support.

Friends of the family have told reporters that she was seen to be crying on the day of her death and that was out of character.

Local neighbour, Cathy, told The Daily Mail, Airlie was crying and “no one knows why”.

“She was a lovely little thing, non-verbal, but a happy girl always smiling and blowing kisses when she saw you,” Cathy said.

“Except yesterday she was crying, no one knows why... and then I didn’t see her.

“She must have wandered off. Everyone in the neighbourhood was so good. We all went out to look for her.

“But then we found out she must have gone over the edge above The Grotto.

“She broke her neck, that’s what we’ve been told”.

Social media posts from local community members have been indicitive of the broader feelings within the small towen.

“This is absolutely heartbreaking and our thoughts are with the family - RIP Little One,” one post said.

Shoalhaven Mayor Patricia White said the community was devastated by the news.

“This is just an absolute tragedy,” Ms White said.

“Words cannot describe how horrible this is.

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

“We are a town in mourning.”

Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000. Lifeline: 13 11 14.