A tourist suspected of being attacked by a massive crocodile in front of his family was fishing from a riverbank known as ‘Crocodile Bend’.
The New South Wales family were on a caravan road trip through Far North Queensland and were fishing near the bridge at Annan River, south of Cooktown, just after 2pm on Saturday when the man, 40, went missing.
He was reportedly dragged under the water by the reptile. Local police said the man’s wife and children were traumatised after witnessing the horrific attack.
Witnesses told police that a large crocodile – known by locals to frequent the area – had been spotted swimming in water nearby.
A team including police, rangers and SES, resumed their search for the man at 7am on Monday, with about 5km of waterways set to be scoured via drones and watercraft.
Cooktown Police Senior Sergeant Greg Finucane said it was ‘basically a search and rescue mission’.
‘We’ve been patrolling the riverbank. There is quite a large area, approximately 5km of waterway, it is tidal,’ Senior Sergeant Finucane said on Sunday.
‘It’s affected by current, also affected by weather and the natural common movement and habitat of crocodiles has to be taken into account.
A man was attacked by a crocodile in front of his wife and children near Cooktown on Saturday afternoon. Pictured is the ongoing search
Locals warned tourists against fishing near the bridge (pictured) as deep riverbanks in the area would make it difficult to escape an attack
‘We will continue search and rescue procedures, using drones and watercraft and specialist units from the far northern region that have come up from Cairns to assist in the search.’
He added the search and rescue team would also look at crocodiles in the area and determine which ones may need capturing.
‘It was a large crocodile, according to witnesses,’ Senior Sergeant Finucane said.
‘Condolences go to the family, who are obviously very traumatised at the moment.’
Police have not confirmed where in NSW the family is from or the age of the victim’s children.
The fishing spot, where the man is believed to have been dragged under by the crocodile, is a well-known habitat for the reptiles.
A Cooktown resident claimed the crocodile had associated people with food as some locals were feeding it roadkill further upstream.
‘People throw roadkill in for it to eat and he could have been sitting there 15ft under the water waiting for a feed,’ a Cooktown local told the Cairns Post.
‘We have had a bit of rain so the bank would be soft and even if he wasn’t near the edge it could have fallen away beneath him.
‘It’s just horrendous and everyone is feeling about the family, to watch that happen in front of you is unthinkable.’
Police declined to comment on speculation that members of the public had been feeding crocodiles in the vicinity.
‘While the circumstances of this matter are yet to be confirmed, we remind everyone that Cooktown is known ‘Croc Country’ and urge everyone to be safe by practising ‘CrocWise’ behaviour,’ a Queensland environment department spokesperson said.
Crocodile Bend is known as a hotspot for crocodile activity.
Local Bart Harrison urged tourists to find a safer spot to fish, warning its steep banks would make it difficult to escape an attack.
‘You could go there just about any low tide and see a big croc laying on the bank opposite you,’ Mr Harrison said.
‘A lot of people get photos and stuff of them sitting there.’
The search for the man is expected to continue into Sunday night and Monday but has been subject to difficult conditions
