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Aussie mum's heartbreaking plea for a fresh start with her young son before she was found dead on a beach

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Cite

Rae, M., & Powell, C. (2026, September 17). Aussie mum's heartbreaking plea for a fresh start with her young son before she was found dead on a beach. Daily Mail. https://www.dailymail.com/news/article-16137515/payge-leembruggen-mackay-mother-dead-beach-son.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490&ito=1490

Dated when The Aporia collected the article, usually within hours of publication. Check the original for its exact date and byline.

Daily Mail · collected 2026-09-17 · by Maisy Rae, Caitlin Powell

Quick Summary

Payge Leembruggen, a 31-year-old mother from Mackay, Queensland, was found dead near the city's harbour four days after she went missing while visiting a hair salon. A year earlier, Leembruggen had posted on Facebook seeking housing for her and her five-year-old son who has special needs, following what she described as an escape from a domestic violence situation. Her death is under investigation by Queensland police, with friends raising funds to support the boy's care.
Written by AI on 2026-09-17, from this article's own text only (the story summary below draws on all the coverage).

AI analysis

Story summary

Payge Leembruggen, a 31-year-old mother from Mackay, Queensland, was found dead near North Wall Beach on Tuesday morning after disappearing four days earlier. She was last seen at Apollo Hair salon in Andergrove around 8:55 am on September 11. Police initially treated her death as suspicious but later reclassified it as non-suspicious based on the absence of injuries and lack of evidence suggesting foul play.

In June 2020, Leembruggen had posted on Facebook seeking a new home for herself and her son after leaving a domestic violence relationship. Her grandfather revealed she sent him a final message saying she would manage her own transport back home from the salon, which he found strange given their usual arrangements. The family has also disclosed that speculation linked Cris Wilesmith, her ex-partner and father of her autistic son Nakoa, to her death, though Wilesmith denied any involvement.

The change in the case status leaves Leembruggen's loved ones seeking answers and grappling with the sudden loss of a mother who had hoped for a better future for herself and her young child.

Written for “Young Mum Found Dead Beach” on 2026-10-31, grounded in this article and the 3 other(s) covering the same event.

Story

📰 Young Mum Found Dead Beach
Crime & Law · 4 article(s) covering the same event. See how they differ ↓

Compared with similar articles

This article reads unscored and hedges 7% of its claims. Each row says how that neighbour differs.
Daily Mail
Hedges 4 of 40 claims Outlet record 68/100
“The articles describe two different events involving separate individuals and circumstances.”
ABC News (AU)
Hedges 5 of 37 claims Outlet record 68/100
“The articles describe different events, one involving families calling for action on a cold case murder and another about a woman's death found near a beach.”
ABC News (AU)
Hedges 2 of 35 claims Outlet record 68/100
“The articles describe two different disappearances and deaths of women, one in Far North Queensland involving Joanne Butterfield and another near Mackay Harbour involving Payge Leembruggen.”
Daily Mail
Hedges 4 of 55 claims Outlet record 68/100
“Article A describes Payge Leembruggen's disappearance and discovery, while Article B provides background on a previous kidnapping incident involving the same person. They are related but describe different occurrences.”
How this article was measured signals, leaning charts, publisher record, byline, topics and claims

Signals How these are calculated →

Claims extracted
30
sentences that state something as happening or true
Uncertain
7%
2 of 30 hedged ("reportedly", "may", "according to")
Leaning
not political
takes no side on a contested political question
Publisher signals
68/100
Daily Mail's corrections and hedging, across everything collected from it. Not a measure of accuracy.
Outlets on this story
4
Crime & Law
Same framing elsewhere
1
articles that frame the event the way this one does
Analyzed 2026-09-17 · how these are computed

How this is being covered How these are calculated →

Article leaning vs. publisher reliability
Source leaning vs. consistency

Publisher

Daily Mail · 8448 article(s) · 20 correction(s) detected
Running correction rate · 20 correction(s)

Who wrote this

Maisy Rae
92 article(s) here · 1 carrying a prediction
🔮 Brisbane mother Rina Cavazza, who paid $170,000 for a berth, said she was unwilling to contribute any more money.
🔮 Referencing the safety concerns raised by the women, Ms Link said she also hoped her positive experience as A'Vard's current partner would be considered.
🔮 The rules state workers must avoid putting themselves in situations that could hurt them or others, keep a safe distance from aggressors and never follow anyone out of a store.
🔮 Almost every Australian would save around $1,000 a year under tax changes proposed by the Greens that would be paid for by collecting 'rivers of gold' from gas and mining companies.
🔮 The One Nation MP said his former wife, Natalie Abberfield, is among more than 12,000 customers whose funds were wiped out after the First Guardian and Shield Master Funds collapsed in May 2024, owing about $1.2billion.
🔮 Former New Zealand prime minister Jacinda Ardern has taken up a post at a major Australian university, where she will mentor students and teach about 'empathetic leadership and social cohesion.
🔮 A report will be prepared for the information of the NSW Coroner.
🔮 Authorities are set to delay the jail release of a convicted paedophile police officer over fears a lynch mob will hunt him down after his new address was leaked online.
🔮 'There may be a separation and now all of a sudden, the woman can take half of the property,' she said.
Also by Maisy Rae
Nothing else under this byline is closely related to this article, so these are simply their most recent.
All 92 articles by Maisy Rae →
Caitlin Powell
44 article(s) here · 1 carrying a prediction
🔮 'We were never just friends, we were always family, and life will never be the same without you,' Thomas said. 'You never know when something might be the last time.
🔮 We know you will have questions about what this looks like for you, and we'll have more info for you over the coming days.
🔮 'The club will provide support to those affected by Daniel's passing, including his former teammates and the people who worked alongside him.
🔮 The benchmark S&P/ASX200 index was down 16.4 points, or 0.19 per cent, at 8800.5 at lunchtime on Wednesday, while the broader All Ordinaries had slipped 18.5 points, or 0.21 per cent, to 8925.7. RBA deputy governor Andrew Hauser told an investment conference in Sydney hours earlier that the inflation outlook was 'materially worse' than the central bank had forecast and businesses were beginning to view 3.5 per cent inflation as the 'new normal'.
🔮 I couldn't sleep after that one.
🔮 Colombian police reportedly found Mr Ramirez and rushed him to a hospital in Medellín, where he remains as he begins what is expected to be a long recovery.
🔮 If found guilty, he could face the death penalty.
🔮 Anyone with information, CCTV, dashcam footage, or who may have witnessed the incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
🔮 Treasurer Jim Chalmers has confirmed a planned ban on credit card payments to the Australian Taxation Office will be delayed following backlash from small businesses.
Also by Caitlin Powell
Nothing else under this byline is closely related to this article, so these are simply their most recent.
All 44 articles by Caitlin Powell →

Topics

Andergrove Apollo Hair Daily Mail Daily Mail Australia Mackay

Subjects

Leembruggen PERSON · 8× Shah PERSON · 3× Mackay PERSON · 2× Payge Leembruggen PERSON · 2× Andergrove GPE · 1× Apollo Hair ORG · 1× Daily Mail ORG · 1× Daily Mail Australia ORG · 1× Queensland GPE · 1× Safiira Shah PERSON · 1×

Narrative

'She was as selfless as she was a beacon of light to those who had the pleasure of her friendship and knowing her mood-changing laughter.' It comes as Queensland Police continue to investigate Ms Leembruggen's death after officers said she would travel from her Mount Jukes home, where she lived with family and her son, into Mackay to 'take up with associates'.
framing: assertive · carried by 1 article(s) · first seen 2026-09-17
🔮 I'm looking for preferably a two-bedroom place but would still be stoked with a one-bedroom.

Claims (30 extracted, 2 hedged)

A young mother found dead on a beach four days after disappearing had issued a heartbreaking plea for help a year earlier as she sought to build a new life for her son. asserted
she → find → son
Emergency services were called at about 8am on Tuesday after a member of the public found the body of Payge Leembruggen, 31, near Mackay Harbour North Wall. Ms Leembruggen was last seen at Apollo Hair salon on Celeber Drive in Andergrove at approximately 8.55am on September 11. asserted
Leembruggen → call → September
Police say she had not been reported missing before her body was found. asserted
body → say → ?
In a Facebook post in June last year, seen by Daily Mail Australia, Ms Leembruggen said she was hoping to start a new life with her son after leaving what she described as a domestic violence relationship. asserted
she → see → relationship
'I am a single mother of a three-year-old boy with special needs,' she wrote in a group for private rentals in the Mackay area. asserted
she → write → area
I'm looking for preferably a two-bedroom place but would still be stoked with a one-bedroom. asserted
I → look → bedroom
I have recently left a bad DV relationship, lost everything and my current living situation isn't the best, but it's a roof over our heads. asserted
it → leave → heads
But we would love to have a place to call home.' asserted
we → love → place
The body of Payge Leembruggen, 31, was found on Tuesday. asserted
body → find → Tuesday
She leaves behind her five-year-old son, who a friend said 'was her world' Emergency services were called to the Mackay Harbour beach at 8am on Tuesday Ms asserted
services → leave → Tuesday
Leembruggen's friend said the bond she shared with her son was special and could never be replicated uncertain
she → say → son
Leembruggen's friend Safiira Shah has set up a GoFundMe to help support the five-year-old boy, who she described as a 'non-verbal, special-needs boy with autism'. asserted
she → set → autism
The strength he has already shown is amazing although the journey ahead is one no child should endure,' Ms Shah said. asserted
Shah → show → ?
'He is a very bright, loving boy, but the bond he shared with his mother will never be replicated. asserted
he → love → mother
An incredibly sad prospect for any child to face.' Ms Shah said he will be cared for by his great-grandparents and grandmother, with any funds raised going towards his specialist care and helping ease future financial pressures. asserted
funds → face → pressures
In the fundraiser, she also paid tribute to Ms Leembruggen, describing her friend as 'one of the most loving and empathetic' people she's ever met. asserted
she → pay → people
'She was always one to put others' needs before her own,' Ms Shah said. asserted
Shah → put → own
'She was as selfless as she was a beacon of light to those who had the pleasure of her friendship and knowing her mood-changing laughter.' It comes as Queensland Police continue to investigate Ms Leembruggen's death after officers said she would travel from her Mount Jukes home, where she lived with family and her son, into Mackay to 'take up with associates'. asserted
she → have → associates
Police have appealed for information about her disappearance and death She was last seen at Apollo Hair salon on Celeber Drive at approximately 8.55am on Sept 11 Police published an appeal on Wednesday for information from anyone who may have seen her between September 11 and 15, or who may have information that could assist the investigation. uncertain
that → appeal → investigation
'We're trying to fill a four-day gap at this time and that's why we're seeking information from members of the public,' Mackay Whitsunday District Detective Inspector Emma Novosel said. asserted
Novosel → try → public
'The area where Payge's body was located, I understand, is quite dense and difficult to navigate.' asserted
I → locate → ?
Detective Inspector Novosel said an autopsy had been scheduled which would help determine the cause of death and added it was too early to confirm whether Ms Leembruggen died at the beach or had been moved to the location. asserted
Leembruggen → say → location
'We always treat an unexplained death as suspicious until proven otherwise,' she said, confirming the family of Ms Leembruggen were 'understandably' distressed. asserted
family → treat → Leembruggen
We're assisting them as much as we can. asserted
we → assist → them
'The beach is safe for everyone to use, we’ve got no concerns about the safety of the general public and using that area.' asserted
we → use → area
Ms Leembruggen is described as Caucasian, about 178cm tall and with brown hair. asserted
Leembruggen → describe → hair
She was last seen wearing a white top, bright red trousers and a red bow in her hair. asserted
She → see → hair
Anyone with information that can assist with investigations is urged to contact police. asserted
that → assist → police
Do you know more? asserted
you → know → more
READ MORE: Horror as young Aussie mum is found dead on the beach after vanishing from Queensland hair salon asserted
mum → read → salon
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