The search for a tourist suspected of having been attacked by a huge crocodile while fishing with his family continues into its third day.
The New South Wales family were on a caravan trip through Far North Queensland and were fishing when the man, in his 40s, went missing near the Annan River Bridge, south of Cooktown, on Saturday just after 2pm.
The man and his family were fishing on a river bank near the bridge when he fell into the river and was reportedly dragged underwater by the reptile.
Police said his wife and children are “traumatized” because they are known to have witnessed the horrific attack.
Witnesses told police that a large crocodile that frequents the area, known as ‘Crocodile Bend’, had been seen swimming in the water nearby before the attack.
A team, including police, rangers and SES, resumed the Search for the man at 7 a.m. on Monday, about 5 km away Waterways are expected to be monitored by drones and boats.
Cooktown police Senior Sergeant Greg Finucane said on Sunday afternoon that “it was basically a search and rescue mission”.
“We’ve been patrolling the riverbank. There’s quite a large area, about 5km of waterway, that’s subject to tides,” Senior Sergeant Finucane told reporters on Sunday.
A man was attacked by a crocodile in front of his wife and children near Cooktown on Saturday afternoon. Pictured is the ongoing search
“It is affected by the current, also by the climate and the natural movement and habitat of the crocodiles must be taken into account,” he added.
“We will continue with search and rescue procedures, using drones, boats and specialist units from the Far North region who have arrived from Cairns to assist in the search.”
Senior Sergeant Finucane said the DES, SES, police and local rangers were working together to find the man.
He added that the search and rescue team will also examine the crocodiles in the area and determine which ones might need to be captured.
“According to witnesses, it was a large crocodile,” Senior Sergeant Finucane said.
‘Our deepest condolences to the family, who are clearly very traumatised at this time.’
Police have not confirmed what part of New South Wales the family is from or the ages of the victim’s children.
The fishing spot, where the man is believed to have been dragged by the crocodile, is a known habitat for the reptiles.
The man fell into the water and did not manage to come to the surface. Neither he nor the crocodile have been seen since.
A Cooktown resident said the crocodile had associated people with food as some locals were feeding it roadkill from upriver.
“People throw roadkill in there for it to eat and it could have been sitting there 15 feet under water waiting to be fed,” said one Cooktown resident. Cairns Mail.
‘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.
Authorities are trying to capture the crocodile, which has not been sighted since the man disappeared.
“Wildlife officers from Cairns travelled to Cooktown (on Saturday night) and conducted a preliminary site inspection on a section of the Annan River,” a Queensland environment department spokesman said.
Intensive surveys of the river, including land-based and drone surveys, will be carried out today. Additional wildlife officers are available to travel to Cooktown if required.
‘While the circumstances of this matter are yet to be confirmed, we remind everyone that Cooktown is known as ‘Croc Country’ and urge everyone to be safe by practising ‘CrocWise’ behaviour.’
Crocodile Bend is known to be a hotspot for crocodile activity.
Local resident Bart Harrison urged tourists to find a safer place to fish, warning that its steep banks would make it difficult to escape an attack.
“You could go there at almost any low tide and see a big crocodile lying on the shore in front of you,” Harrison said.
‘A lot of people take pictures and things of them sitting there.’
The search for the man is expected to continue through Sunday night and Monday, but has been subject to difficult conditions.
Locals warned tourists not to fish near the bridge (pictured) as deep river banks in the area would make it difficult to escape an attack.