A woman whose body was found on North Cronulla Beach in Sydney’s south suffered “an injury” – but it wasn’t the cause of her death.

Two women exercising spotted the fully-clothed body lying face down in the sand about 5am Wednesday.

Detective Chief Inspector Terry O’Neill said officers haven’t yet been able to identify the victim and wouldn’t elaborate on the nature of her injury.

“The lady sustained an injury which we will not discuss,” he told reporters.

“But apart from that one injury there were no other external injuries.
“The injury would not have caused the death.”

Detectives are cross-checking missing person reports and have urged anyone who knows recently missing persons to contact authorities.

The woman has long dark hair and was wearing a long-sleeved, black woollen turtleneck jumper and maroon pants with black shoes.

Det Insp O’Neill said there was a high tide overnight and it’s possible the body washed up from elsewhere.

“That’s a theory that we would not exclude,” he said.

A police helicopter has scoured the crime scene from above to search for any other belongings or evidence in the water, and the homicide squad is assisting.
Police believe the woman’s death was relatively recent.

“We’re not talking weeks, we’re talking sooner than later,” Det Insp O”Neill said.
It’s hoped an autopsy will be performed on Thursday and will help steer the direction on the investigation.

Police are also retrieving CCTV footage from the Cronulla CBD and parkland.

Det Insp O’Neill said information from the public was “very vital” in the infancy of the investigation and reassured locals the area was safe.

-AAP