Remains of Missing Man Found Inside Crocodile in Australia

Remains of Missing Man Found Inside Crocodile in Australia

Human remains believed to belong to a missing man have been discovered inside a crocodile in north-eastern Australia, Queensland police announced on Tuesday.

The 40-year-old man went missing in a suspected crocodile attack near the Annan River Bridge in Far North Queensland on Saturday afternoon. “A formal identification process is underway, but it is believed that the remains are those of the missing 40-year-old New South Wales man,” police stated. Further testing will be conducted to confirm his identity.

Following this discovery, the search and rescue operation for the man has been suspended. On Monday, local media reported that a large crocodile, believed to be responsible for the fatal attack, was humanely euthanized by authorities. The nearly five-meter-long reptile, identified by distinctive markings on its snout, was found approximately 4 kilometers from the site of the man’s disappearance. The crocodile is estimated to be decades old.

The man was reportedly at the popular fishing spot with his wife and children when he went missing. Authorities are also investigating social media reports that people were seen feeding crocodiles near the accident scene, an act considered a criminal offense in Australia and punishable by a fine of around AUD 6,452 (USD 4,188).

On average, Australia records two fatal crocodile attacks each year. In a recent incident, a 12-year-old girl was killed in the Northern Territory in July.