Mystery of a Northern Territory man’s disappearance solved, almost 25 years after he vanished from the Tiwi Islands

In 1996, just before Christmas, Djarrwalkpuy Yunupingu boarded a plane on the remote Tiwi Islands destined for the Northern Territory's capital — a short hop across the Timor Sea.

NOTE: Djarrwalkpuy Yunupingu's family has given permission for his name and image to be used.

It was a familiar routine for the 39-year-old, who made semi-regular trips to Darwin to socialise with friends and buy groceries. On this day, high on his to-do list was picking up presents for his family and he was expected back on the island that afternoon.