Body of missing fisherman found inside crocodile

The body of an Australian fisherman who went missing while fishing with companions has been discovered within a crocodile.
Kevin Darmody, a 65-year-old man, disappeared in the vicinity of Kennedy's Bend, a renowned habitat for saltwater crocodiles in a remote area of northern Queensland. Following an extensive two-day search, authorities made the difficult decision to euthanize two sizable crocodiles, leading to the discovery of human body parts.

Authorities expressed that the discovery of Mr. Darmody's remains inside the crocodile marked a "tragic conclusion." A formal identification procedure will be conducted to confirm his identity. Mr. Darmody was a respected and experienced fisherman who held a prominent position within the Cape York community.

On Monday, the two crocodiles, measuring 4.1m (13.4 ft) and 2.8m (9.2 ft) respectively, were euthanized approximately 1.5 km (0.9 miles) away from the location where Mr. Darmody was last seen. While human remains were discovered inside only one of the reptiles, wildlife officers suspect the involvement of both crocodiles in the incident.

Although the fishermen accompanying Mr. Darmody did not witness the attack, they reported hearing him shout, followed by a distinct sound of a forceful splash.

"I raced down… but there was no sign of him, just his thongs [flip-flops] on the bank and nothing else," his friend John Peiti told the Cape York Weekly.

While crocodiles are frequently found in Australia's tropical northern regions, incidents of attacks are infrequent. The unfortunate passing of Mr. Darmody marks only the 13th recorded fatal attack in Queensland since official record-keeping commenced in 1985.

In 2021, a fisherman lost his life to a crocodile under comparable circumstances on Hinchinbrook Island in Queensland. Additionally, fatal crocodile attacks occurred in the far north of the state in 2017 and 2016.

Following the implementation of a hunting ban in 1974, the crocodile population in Queensland has made a remarkable recovery, surging from an estimated 5,000 individuals to approximately 30,000 at present.

According to a report from 2019, it was indicated that there were an average of 1.7 adult crocodiles inhabiting every kilometer of surveyed rivers.

As part of Queensland's management program, any "problem crocodiles" posing a threat to public safety are relocated from the affected areas, and in rare cases, euthanized.
 

The crocodile population in Australia's Northern Territory (NT) surpasses those numbers, with an estimated count of approximately 100,000 reptiles, making it the largest wild crocodile population globally.

Despite publicity campaigns to be "crocwise" around rivers, there was an average of 1-2 deaths from crocodile attacks in the Territory each year from 2005, but none have occurred since 2018.

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