7 Jun 2022

Police confirm sudden death of Ingham twin Joanne

2:55 pm on 7 June 2022

The woman who died suddenly at a Wellington address today was Joanne Ingham, who hit the headlines in 1997 after stowing away on a container ship with her twin sister, police say.

AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND - MARCH 23:  Joanne Ingham (r) leaves the Takapuna District Court on her birthday, after seeing her twin sister Sarah, sentanced to 14 days in jail on charges of driving while disqualified and supplying false information.  (Photo by Ross Land/Getty Images)

Joanne Ingham leaves court in Takapuna in Auckland in 1998, after seeing her sister convicted of two charges. Photo: Getty Images

Wellington police are investigating after her body was found at a Webb Street, Te Aro address early this morning.

Police were called to the property about 2.40am.

Her death was being treated as unexplained and a scene examination was being carried out, police said in a statement.

Joanne Elizabeth Ingham, 43, who had been living in Wellington, was originally from Kaiapoi near Christchurch.

The twins attracted interest from around the world after they stowed away on a Malaysian container vessel that sailed from Tauranga.

The pair told media at the time they jumped off the ship with one of its crew and swam 19km to shore in Queensland. They were found 19 days later.