‘Just cruising by’: Croc spotted at Four Mile Beach

A three metre crocodile spotted on Four Mile Beach attracted a wide-eyed crowd of 100 excited onlookers amid warnings from lifeguards about the danger.

The croc at Four Mile Beach.

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A three metre crocodile spotted at Four Mile Beach attracted a wide-eyed crowd of 100 onlookers on Sunday.

With ocean temperatures heating up, the croc is believed to have entered the water via the Mowbray River and swam around the northern end of the beach.

The reptile was spotted at about 3.30pm on Sunday afternoon and resulted in a temporary beach closure.

Local business owner Kelvin Brown said at least 100 people witnessed the event.

“It was just cruising by. The tourists actually love that firstly they are warned before it gets to them and secondly that they can watch it go by from the shore,” he said.

Department of Environment and Science (DES) wildlife officers captured a 4.5m crocodile from Newell Beach in 2021, Due to its size, (greater than 4m) the crocodile was dealt with as an iconic crocodile under Queensland’s conservation laws

The beachgoers were warned about the croc by Port Douglas lifeguards.

“The lifeguards do a great job always watching the water,” Mr Brown said.

“It’s Far North Queensland. We live with snapping handbags, keep out their way, and they seem to keep out of our way.”

A spokeswoman from the Department of Science and Environment said: “We are used to it happening this time of year. Crocodiles are migrating in a southerly direction.”

Two reports have been made to DES through the QWildlife app.

Both incidents have been listed as “under investigation”.

The last crocodile sighting at the beach was in July, which led to the beach being closed for an entire day.

A three metre croc was captured on the beach in September 2021.

The last fatal croc attack in the Port Douglas area was in 2017.

The Department of Environment and Science is investigating the latest sighting.

A saltwater crocodile has been filmed walking across a fairway and a footpath at the Palmer Sea Reef Golf Course in Port Douglas in May 2021. VIDEO: Palmer Sea Reef.

It came when 79-year-old Anne Cameron disappeared from aged care facility Ozcare near Port Douglas after taking a walk. Her remains were later found in a 4.3-m crocodile.

In April this year, Manfred Van Eckeren, 65, was asleep at Newell Beach near Port Douglas when he said he was bitten on the feet by a crocodile.

Originally published as ‘Just cruising by’: Croc spotted at Four Mile Beach