‘I miss my brother’: Family searching for answers after mystery death of Sydney man
Police have turned to the public as they investigate what led to the death of a well-loved man on Sydney’s Northern Beaches earlier this year.
Brett Whittaker, 54, was found unresponsive at a home on Cove Avenue in Manly on June 11. However, he was unable to be saved by responding paramedics.
Brett Whittaker, 54, was found unresponsive at a home in Sydney’s Northern Beaches earlier this year. NSW Police
Police say they are not treating his death as suspicious but are now appealing to the public for help as they look to retrace the 54-year-old’s final movements.
Detective Superintendent John Duncan said police want to know how long Whittaker was unresponsive before emergency crews arrived.
“While there is no evidence at this time to indicate his death is suspicious, we want to know how did Brett get to be in that position,” Duncan said.
“We have information that a number of other people were with Brett in the unit the previous day, and we’ve been able to confirm he was alive at 2.30am.
“But we want to know where he was and who he was with in the intervening hours until his body was found at 6.30am.
“We know there were calls from the location to other people, and it’s those people we hope can provide some clarity to how Brett came to be alone, and so unwell, at that time of the morning.”
Brett’s twin sister Janine, is also looking for answers following the death of her brother.
“Brett would give you the shirt off his back to help anyone, but he was also a larrikin who would strap a coffin to the top of his much-loved van,” she said.
Whittaker was described by his sister as a well-loved. NSW Police
Janine said he was a well-loved and was a proud owner of a painting business.
“He was really looking forward to being a poppy but, unfortunately, has just missed out. I hope someone out there will come forward and help police understand what happened.
“I miss my brother,” she said.
Anyone with information surrounding Brett’s death or his movements before he was found on June 11 is urged to call Manly Police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
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