Deceased
Azaria Chantel Loren Chamberlain
Demographics
0y, female
Date of death
1980-08-17
Finding date
1981-02-20
Cause of death
Fatal attack by wild dingo; severe crushing injuries to base of skull and neck, and lacerations to throat and neck
AI-generated summary
A nine-week-old infant was fatally attacked by a wild dingo while sleeping in a tent at Ayers Rock in August 1980. The coroner found the death resulted from severe crushing injuries to the base of skull and neck, along with throat and neck lacerations caused by the animal attack, resulting in swift death. The coroner explicitly exonerated the parents and siblings of any responsibility. This case highlights the risks of wildlife encounters in remote camping areas and the importance of appropriate supervision and safety measures when camping with infants in areas with known dingo populations. The coroner's findings emphasize that parental supervision was not a factor in this tragic but unavoidable incident.
AI-generated summary — refer to original finding for legal purposes. Report an inaccuracy.
107/80
19 8 lyefore me PENIS JOSEPH BARRITT
Coroner’s Ordinance 1974 (Form 16.)
An Inquisition taken at ALICE SPRINGS & AYERS ROCK inthe Northern Territory of Australiaon the 20th day of February,
a Coroner (ax DeprtoGoronek
for the said Territory, as to when, how and by what means AZARTA CHANTEL LOREM
CHAMBERLAIN came to his death Sonm ta thorensenncd rginwk axsntain fie which occured ormonakmntxtkx the 17th day of August,
19 8Oat AYERS ROCK in the said Territory).
Ifind that AZARTA CHANTEL LOREN CHAMBERLAIN a child then of nine weeks of age and formerly of Mount Isa, Queensland, met her death when attacked by a wild dingo whilst asleep in her family's tent at the top camping area, Ayers Rock, shortly after 8pm on 17th August, 1980.
I FURTHER FIND that in attempting to remove this babe from the tent, the dingo would have caused severe crushing to the base of the skull and neck and lacerations to the throat and neck. Such injuries would have resulted in swift death.
I FURTHER FIND that neither the parents of the child, nor either of their remaining children were in any degree whatsoever responsible for this death.
i FIND that the name AZARIA does not mean and never has meant sacrifice in the wilderness. |
I find that after her death the body of AZARIA was taken from the possession of the dingo and disposed of by an unknown method, by a person or persons name unknown. :
GIVEN UNDER MY HAND this 20th day of
February, 19 81.
eC roner SEB UE OES,
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