Detectives are appealing for help from the public as they prepare a report for the Coroner into the death of a man on the Northern Beaches earlier this year.
Emergency services were called to a home on Cove Avenue, Manly, about 6.20am Thursday 11 June 2026, after a man was reported to be unresponsive. NSW Ambulance paramedics rendered assistance; however, the man was unable to be revived.
Officers attached to Northern Beaches Police Area Command initiated inquiries with the man’s identity being confirmed as the man as 54-year-old Brett Whittaker.
At this time Brett’s death is not being treated as suspicious; however, as inquiries continue by detectives, police are seeking to clarify the circumstances leading up to him being discovered.
Northern Beaches PAC Commander, Detective Superintendent John Duncan, said police were seeking answers for Brett’s family.
“The responsibility of preparing a report for the information of the NSW Coroner lies with my detectives, but we also want to find out what was happening in the lead-up to the discovery of Brett’s body,” Det Supt Duncan said.
“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 and how long was he there before emergency personnel arrived.
“We have information that a number of other people were with Brett in the unit the previous day (10 June 2026), 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,” Det Supt Duncan said.
Brett’s twin sister, Janine, is pleading with the public to help police in their inquiries.
“Brett was a Narrabeen boy, loved by many, and he was proud of his painting business,” Janine said.
“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.
“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.
As inquiries continue, anyone with information about Brett’s death or movements before he was found is urged to call Manly Police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
Anyone with information about this incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000 or https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au. Information is managed on a confidential basis. The public is reminded not to report information via NSW Police social media pages.
