Man missing after croc attack in northern Australia
Police and park officials today hunted for a man who went missing after a crocodile grabbed him by the arm, upturned his canoe and dragged him underwater in north-eastern Australia.
The 60-year-old man, whose identity was not released, was fishing with his wife late yesterday on the Normanby River, near Cooktown in north-eastern Queensland state, when the couple noticed a large crocodile moving toward them, said police Superintendent Mike Keating.
The man tried to fight off the crocodile, but it dragged him into the water as the boat capsized, Keating said. The woman swam ashore and drove to a nearby ranger station where she called for help.
A search resumed at first light today, Keating said. Police were working with a crocodile expert from the National Parks and Wildlife Service, a Queensland Rescue helicopter and National Parks boats.
“We hope to find the crocodile and man today,” he said. “We are relying on the expertise of the rangers to assist us in regard to the crocodile’s behaviour and to assist us in the search. We don’t want to put anyone else at risk.”
