Police announced Tuesday that human remains were discovered inside a large crocodile believed to have killed a 40-year-old tourist in Queensland, Australia. This marks the second fatal crocodile attack in the region within a month.
The victim, Dr. Dave Hogbin, was a general practitioner from Newcastle, New South Wales. He was on a camping trip in Queensland with his wife, Jane Hogbin, and their three young sons. The tragedy occurred when Dr. Hogbin fell from a steep riverbank into the Annan River near Cooktown.
Wildlife rangers euthanized a 4.9-meter (16-foot) crocodile on Monday, approximately 4 kilometers from where Dr. Hogbin disappeared. The crocodile had distinctive scars on its snout, matching descriptions provided by witnesses. During an examination, human remains were found inside the crocodile, which authorities believe to be those of Dr. Hogbin. Further testing is required for a positive identification.
Initially, police reports suggested that Dr. Hogbin had been fishing when he fell. However, his family clarified that he had been walking along a riverbank path about five meters (16 feet) above the river when the bank gave way.
“It caused Dave to fall down into the river below, and despite being tall, strong and fit, the conditions of the terrain meant Dave was unable to get himself out of the water,” the family’s statement read.
Jane Hogbin heard the splash and tried to rescue her husband.
“Due to the steepness and slipperiness of the bank, she was able to grab his arm, but soon began slipping into the river herself,” the statement said.
Dr. Hogbin let go of her arm to save her from falling in with him.
“Dave’s final, decisive act was to let go of Jane’s arm when he realized she was falling in, despite knowing she was his only lifeline. Within moments, he was taken,” the family added.
Jane Hogbin praised her husband’s heroic decision to let go, which saved her life.
“He saved me – his last act was to not pull me in with him. I’m glad I’m still here because it could have been a millionfold worse for everyone involved, not just the boys,” she said.
Family friend Alex Ward noted that the couple’s three children did not witness the tragedy, which he considered a small consolation amidst the grief.
Dr. Hogbin fell at a spot known as Crocodile Bend, a popular location for tourists to view large crocodiles. Police Acting Chief Superintendent Shane Holmes stated that the incident was believed to be an accident.
This incident follows another fatal crocodile attack on July 2, when a 12-year-old girl was killed while swimming with her family in the Northern Territory. Her remains were found days later, and wildlife rangers shot dead a 4.2-meter (14-foot) crocodile.
In 2023, Australia has seen three fatal crocodile attacks, approaching the highest annual death toll of four recorded in 2014. A 16-year-old boy was also killed on April 18 while swimming off a Queensland island.
The crocodile population has surged across Australia’s tropical north since they became a protected species in the early 1970s, following near extinction due to hunting for their skins in the 1950s.