A respected doctor, who tragically died in a horrific crocodile attack, is being remembered for his final act of heroism that saved his wife’s life.
David Hogbin, 40, died after being caught by a crocodile in the Annan River, south of Cooktown in Far North Queensland, shortly after 2pm on Saturday. He had been on holiday in the region with his wife Jane and their three children.
Despite initial reports suggesting Dr Hogbin had fallen into the water while fishing, his devastated loved ones have now revealed he was actually walking along a path on the bank of a 15-metre-high river when a section of ground suddenly gave way beneath him.
“Jane, who was nearby but not walking with Dave at the time, heard the splash and slid down to desperately try to get him out,” her friend Alex Ward wrote on GoFundMe.
‘Because of the steep and slippery bank, Jane was able to grab her arm, but began to slide into the river.
“Dave’s decisive and final act was to release Jane’s arm when he realized she was sliding in, an act that probably saved his life. In a momentous instant, Dave was caught by the crocodile.”
Mr Ward said initial reports that Dr Hogbin was attacked in front of his children were incorrect and that none of his three children saw him fall, a fact which was “small comfort” to his loved ones.
Mr Ward said his family and friends were “completely devastated” by the tragedy but felt “incredibly lucky” to have had him in their lives.
David Hogbin, 40, is pictured with his wife Jane and their three children on the trip of a lifetime to Far North Queensland.
He said Dr Hogbin would be remembered for his “enthusiasm and joy” and his love of 4×4 camping adventures.
“Dave had accomplished something we will all strive to emulate; he realized, before it was too late, that he had everything he needed in life: his family, his friends and the time they could enjoy together,” Ward said.
“It was a mutual love and discovery of 4×4 that brought me so close to Dave, and I’m not sure I could do it without him (which he would tease me about and tell me to go back and continue the adventurous legacy he’s created for his kids).”
Jane Hogbin said her husband touched many lives and she wanted to speak out to “put a face to this tragedy.”
“Not only did a crocodile kill someone, we have also lost a wonderful husband, father, son, brother, friend and doctor,” she told NewsCorp.
‘We were just having a normal day on vacation and everything changed in 30 seconds. I wasn’t doing anything wrong; in fact, I was doing everything right, and yet this happened.
“Things can change so quickly in an instant, even if you do everything right.”
Dr Hogbin was a general practitioner who worked at a number of medical centres in the Lake Macquarie region of New South Wales. He was currently based at Jewells Medical Centre.
According to an online profile, his special medical interests included pediatrics and dermatology, while in his spare time he enjoyed spending time in the woods, driving 4×4 vehicles and fishing with his children.
Dr Hogbin’s loved ones have revealed his final act was saving the life of his wife Jane, who desperately tried to pull him out of the water.
Dr Hogbin, a doctor from the Lake Macquarie region of New South Wales, was on a family holiday at the time of the tragedy.
After completing his undergraduate degree at the University of Notre Dame in 2014, he worked in real estate and nuclear medicine before undertaking a residency at John Hunter Hospital in Newcastle.
The director of Windale Community Medical Centre, where Dr Hogbin previously worked, said the community was in shock over his death.
“We’re all still in shock as we trained him,” he told the Cairns Post.
“I have many employees who are going through difficult times.”
The crocodile was shot dead by rangers at 2pm on Monday before the carcass was handed over to police and its stomach contents examined.
Queensland Police released a statement on Tuesday revealing that human remains had been found inside the predator.
“A formal identification process is underway, however the remains are believed to be those of a missing 40-year-old New South Wales man,” the statement said.
Further tests will be carried out to determine the identity of the suspect. The search and rescue operation has been suspended.
‘Police are working with wildlife officers as investigations continue.’
Disturbing footage has emerged showing people feeding crocodiles upriver from where Dr Hogbin was swept away by a “large crocodile”.
This comes after disturbing videos emerged on social media showing people throwing fish scraps or meat into the water to wait for crocodiles upriver from where the father was abducted.
“Is that the big one?” a man was heard asking.
“Yeah, it’s pretty big,” another person replied.
“Oh, there are two there!” a woman exclaimed.
A child was then heard saying “attack” moments before a crocodile appeared and took a bite of food thrown into the water.
Another video shows a crocodile swimming to the water’s edge and eating a large fish on the riverbank.
“What a pig,” the woman said. “I think he just said ‘thank you.'”
It is unknown when the video was taken, but it is understood the feeding took place in the Annan River in Cooktown.
A Queensland Department of Environment and Science He said he was “very concerned” by the videos.
“It is illegal to feed crocodiles in Queensland and anyone with information about the deliberate feeding of crocodiles is encouraged to call 1300 130 372 and report their information. Reports can be made anonymously,” a spokesman said.
Dr Hogbin was attacked by a crocodile in front of his wife and children in the Annan River, south of Cooktown (pictured, a baited crocodile trap is placed in the water)
‘Feeding crocodiles on river banks or boat ramps encourages them to stay there waiting for their next meal.
‘This may expose future visitors to the area to a much greater risk of attack if they approach or enter the water.
‘People should never feed crocodiles or give them easy access to food or fish scraps.’
The department said crocodiles, which have been around for millions of years, are able to obtain their own food thanks to their highly developed sense of smell.
He added that the crocodile responsible for dragging the father underwater is believed to have “had a distinctive marking on its snout.”
The place where Dr. Hogbin was attacked is a known habitat for the reptiles.
A Cooktown resident said the crocodile had associated people with food as some locals were feeding it roadkill from upriver.
“People throw roadkill in for him to eat, but he could have been sitting there, 15 feet under water, waiting to be fed,” they told the Cairns Post.
‘There’s been a bit of rain so the bench would have been soft and even if he hadn’t been near the edge it could have collapsed underneath him.
“It’s just horrible and everyone is feeling sorry for the family; to see that happen in front of you is unthinkable.”
Police declined to comment on speculation that members of the public had been feeding the crocodiles in the vicinity.
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