The remains of a missing Australian fisherman have been found inside two crocodiles, Queensland Police say.
The remains were discovered when the two reptiles were euthanised by Department of Environment and Science (DES) wildlife officers following a search for the man.
Police said they believe the remains belong to a missing fisherman, aged 65, from rural Queensland town Laura, pending the formal identification process.
The man has been named by local media as publican Kevin Darmody, who had disappeared while fishing on the Kennedy River at Rinyirru National Park in Far North Queensland on Saturday afternoon.
The man’s friend, who was nearby, told DES that he was fishing on the banks of the river when “there were splashing noises and he disappeared”.
John Peiti told Cape York Weekly that he rushed to see the commotion within half a minute, but there was no sign of his friend - only his flip flops were left on the bank.
“There was just no sign of him – no fishing rod, no hat,” Mr Peiti said.
Officers believe the two crocodiles - 4.1m and 2.8m long - were involved in an incident with the fisherman and were located upstream from where he was last seen.
Search and rescue operations have been discontinued.
“Queensland Police will prepare a report for the coroner after human remains were located within two crocodiles euthanised by Department of Environment and Science (DES) wildlife officers,” the force said in a statement on Wednesday.
The national park where the man was last seen fishing is “known croc country”, the DES said, as it urged locals to report any crocodile sightings.
Crocodiles are a “common occurrence” in northern Queensland waterways. No waterway in the area “can ever be considered crocodile-free”, official Government advice warns.
Fishermen are warned to stand at least five metres back from the water’s edge and to place unused bait and fish scraps in a bin.
Darmody was an experienced fisherman, friend Bron Jones told Cape York Weekly.
“If anyone knew Kev they’d know that he was always one to give advice to tourists about being careful. He knew the risks and he wasn’t one to take risks,” she said.
In 2021 British tourist Amelie Osborn-Smith said she was “very, very lucky” to have survived a crocodile attack while on holiday in Zambia.
Meanwhile in 2017 a woman died after falling into the enclosure of her pet crocodile, which had been kept illegally at the farm where she worked in Indonesia.
