Shattered community donates more than $20,000 to twin daughters of mother who mysteriously died in bushland - seven years after they were miraculously born 10 weeks early
- Felicity Shadbolt, 36, disappeared on Sunday during a run near Tom Price, WA
- Her body was discovered on Wednesday night 400m from the walking track
- Police are still unsure of how she died due to decomposition of the body
- Locals rallied to raise thousands for her twin daughters Macie and Harper
- The seven-year-old 'miracle babies' were born 10 weeks premarture
Saddened locals have raised more than $20,000 for the children of a mother-of-two who mysteriously died while bushwalking.
Felicity Shadbolt, 36, disappeared on Sunday after going for a run on Mount Nameless, near Tom Price in Western Australia's Pilbara region.
Her body was found hidden in scrub 400m off the path about 7pm on Wednesday after dozens of locals volunteered to search for her in 46C heat.
Saddened locals raised more than $20,000 for Macie and Harper Shadbolt, pictured, after their mother Felicity mysteriously died while bushwalking
Felicity Shadbolt (pictured right with her twin girls Macie and Harper) disappeared on Sunday after going for a run in the bush near her home. Her husband Drew (left) said she enjoyed the outdoors and 'died doing something she loved'
Her death rocked the remote mining town, especially since murder has not been officially ruled out as a cause of death.
Local councillor Peter Foster began a fundraiser for Ms Shadbolt's twin seven-year-old daughters Macie and Harper.
The Tom Price community and many others concerned Australians rallied to donate more than $20,000 from more than 200 donors in just two days.
Mr Foster said he started the fundraiser with support from her family, including her husband Drew.
'The community, along with the local police, would like to assist Macie and Harper by raising funds to help with the girl's future as well as immediate funeral costs after the tragic death of their much-loved mother,' he wrote.
'Whilst we can't bring Flik back, we can help support girls now and into their future.'
The family described Ms Shadbolt (right) as 'tenacious, stubborn and focused' and also a best friend to her seven-year-old twins Macie and Harper
Ms Shadbolt leaves behind her husband Drew and their two twin daughters after they moved to Tom Price in Western Australia's Pilbara region three years ago
Dozens of locals earlier filled a book of of condolences in the community centre, where they also met to console each other over the popular resident's death.
The community centre will also hold a public memorial at 2pm on Friday to celebrate Ms Shadbolt's life.
Mr Shadbolt, who married his wife in October 2009, remembered her as a dedicated mother who 'lived her life for her girls'.
'When her girls were born, she would put them in their pram and run with them,' he said in a statement on Friday.
'She has a love for life, love for the outdoors and she died doing something she loved. She ran until the very end.'
The mother-of-two's body was found about 7pm on Wednesday 400m from off the walking path after a frantic search by dozens of volunteers in 46C heat
Ms Shadbolt with her two daughters at the beach in Exmouth at Christmas where they holidayed with close friends
Three weeks before she disappeared, Ms Shadbolt spent Christmas in Exmouth, WA, with her daughters, now both aged seven
He described Ms Shadbolt as 'tenacious, stubborn and focused' and also a best friend to her seven-year-old twins Macie and Harper.
'She talked of living in a big house so her girls could stay with her forever so they could always be together,' he said.
Her family said she would be remembered for her beautiful smile, immaculate appearance, desire to stay young and the smell of her favourite perfume.
Macie and Harper were born 10 weeks premature, four weeks after doctors said Harper was too small to survive.
'That was not an option for Flik. She was determined she would walk out of hospital with two babies, not one, and her fight paid off,' Mr Shadbolt said.
The couple refused to give up and the unborn child hung on for four weeks as they fought to give her a chance to live - and they both survived
The couple refused to give up and the unborn child hung on for four weeks as they fought to give her a chance to live.
'It was the hardest four weeks of our lives,' Ms Shadbolt said in a tribute video to her 'miracle' twins.
'Only a handful of people would know our daily amount of pain and tears as we prayed that we would get to keep both our babies.
'You never know how strong you are until being strong is the only choice you have.'
Macie Willot Shadbolt was born at 11.59pm, weighing 1.7kg, and two minutes later her sister Harper Reese Shadbolt entered the world weighing just 736g.
Two minutes later her sister Harper Reese Shadbolt entered the world weighing just 736g
Macie stayed in hospital for 70 days and Harper for 90 before they were ready to come home to regional Victoria
Ms Shadbolt had the words 'miracles happens to ones that believe' tattooed on her forearm, along with the girls' names
Ms Shadbolt had the words 'miracles happen to ones that believe' tattooed on her forearm, along with the girls' name.
Police said on Friday that they were investigating a range of possibilities at to her death including a medical episode, accident, or even foul play.
Superintendent Paul Coombes said it was less likely Ms Shadbolt was murdered, but because the body had undergone days of decomposition, nothing could be ruled out.
Share this article
He said it was more likely she suffered from heatstroke on the 46C day or was bitten by venomous snakes that plague the scrubs she was walking through.
'All the indicators are pointing in that direction but we can't be sure until after the post mortem because of the condition and location of Felicity's body,' he told Daily Mail Australia.
'There's nothing obvious that presented at the scene that caused us [to believe Ms Shadbolt was murdered].'
About 35 people had been involved in a ground search including police, SES and members of the local community in the early hours of Tuesday
Ms Shadbolt may have died from a snake bite as deadly breeds like this death adder slither through the scrub she was walking through on Mount Nameless
Superintendent Coombes said a snakebite was 'definitely a possibility' that detectives and the medical examiner would explore.
'There are are an lot of venomous snakes in and around Tom Price and on Mount Nameless,' he said.
Local snake catcher Tim Salmon said deadly western brown, mulga, and death adder snakes were common in the scrubland around the mountain tracks.
However, he said though sightings were common, he couldn't recall someone being bitten walking there because locals knew how to avoid them.
Heartbroken father David Dick (right) has recalled the moment he found out his daughter Felicity Shadbolt, 36, (left) had died while bushwalking on a remote mountain
Mr Dick, pictured walking Ms Shadbolt down the aisle at her wedding in October 2009, hoped her death would be confirmed to be the result of the elements or a snakebite, not murder
Friends and family send condolences to her husband Drew (right) who she married in October 2009
Superintendent Coombes declined to comment on how much Ms Shadbolt drank of her two-litre CamelBak hydration pack.
He said the bag was being forensically examined and was key to the investigation into her cause of death.
Ms Shadbolt sent her husband Drew a text about 12.50pm on Sunday saying she'd be home in 20 minutes. She never made it.
The main track to the summit of Mount Nameless for a breathtaking view of the landscape and Rio Tinto iron ore mine is 4.5km and takes three hours.
Ms Shadbolt regularly ran the numerous trails around Mount Nameless, knowing them well, and was in such good shape she competed in Tough Mudder and Spartan races (pictured)
All explanations of Ms Shdbolt's death including a medical episode, accident, or murder are still on the table as homicide police flew in to the outback mining town to investigate
Her car was found parked in a car park at the base of the mountain soon after her disappearance, but she was nowhere to be found.
Police said she was wearing an Apple watch for her run, but it was not connected to the internet and so couldn't be used to trace her movements.
Dozens of locals volunteered to help SES crews and police scour the area in scorching heat in an effort to find her, and one eventually did.
Ms Shadbolt's body will be transported to Port Headland then to Perth for a post-mortem that will hopefully determine her cause of death.
Felicity Shadbolt, 36, disappeared on Sunday after going for a run on Mount Nameless, near Tom Price in Western Australia's Pilbara region
Comments 0
Share what you think
No comments have so far been submitted. Why not be the first to send us your thoughts, or debate this issue live on our message boards.
