Human remains believed to belong to a missing 40-year-old man from New South Wales have been found inside a crocodile in north-eastern Australia, according to police. The man went missing near the Annan River Bridge in Far North Queensland on Saturday afternoon while at a popular fishing spot with his wife and children. A formal identification process is underway, and further testing will be conducted to confirm the identity.
The Queensland police suspended the search and rescue operation following the discovery. On Monday, local media reported that a large crocodile believed to be responsible for the attack was humanely euthanised. The reptile, nearly five meters in length, was located about four kilometers from where the man went missing, recognized by distinctive markings on its snout, and was believed to be decades old.
Authorities are also investigating reports that people were seen feeding crocodiles near the scene of the incident, which is a criminal offense in Australia, punishable by a fine of around $6,452 Australian ($4,188 US). On average, two fatal crocodile attacks are reported annually in Australia, with the latest incident prior to this involving the death of a 12-year-old girl in the Northern Territory in July.