Gordon Copeland inquest: inspector says police would not have called off search if all details were known

The NSW coroner is examining the death of Gordon Copeland, a 22-year-old Gomeroi man who drowned in the Gwydir River in July 2021. Photograph: Supplied by the family & ALS

A senior inspector in charge of the search for a Gomeroi man who drowned in a river has told the inquest into his death the police search was called off before officers knew all of the details.

Inspector Helen McWilliam coordinated the search for 22-year-old Gordon Copeland, who drowned in the Gwydir River in the early hours of 10 July 2021. Police called off the search after three days, and his body was not found until authorities reopened the search three months later in October after sustained community pressure.