Man attacked by crocodile in Cooktown, Far North Queensland, feared dead

Police and rangers using drones and watercraft will resume the search for a man this morning after he was dragged underwater by a crocodile while fishing with his family.

A large crocodile photographed last month at Crocodile Bend who has been know by locals to live in the area. Photo: Le Long

Police and rangers using drones and watercraft will resume the search for a man this morning after he was dragged underwater by a crocodile while fishing with his family on the Annan River on Saturday afternoon.

Authorities will continue searching approximately 5km of waterways for a man who was reportedly dragged underwater by a crocodile in front of his family, with specialist units from Cairns assisting in the search.

The man was fishing on the bank of the Annan River, near Cooktown north of Cairns, when he slipped and was attacked by the animal about 2pm Saturday.

The man was visiting the area in a caravan with family, including children, who witnessed the attack.

Police said the man, his wife and children were holidaying in a caravan and only passing through Cooktown.

At 8pm Saturday, police confirmed the missing man was from New South Wales and that emergency crews had been called to the Annan River Bridge about 2.10pm after he fell into the water and failed to resurface.

Police restarted the search alongside wildlife officers on Sunday morning.

Cooktown Police Senior Sergeant Greg Finucane on Sunday afternoon said DES, SES, police and local wildlife rangers were working to find the man.

“It’s basically a search and rescue mission,” he said.

“We’ve been patrolling the riverbank. There is quite a large area, approximately 5km of waterway, it is tidal.

“It’s affected by current, also affected by weather and the natural common movement and habitat of crocodiles has to be taken into account.”

A large crocodile photographed last month at Crocodile Bend who has been know by locals to live in the area. Photo: Le Long

He said according to witnesses it was a large crocodile.

“We will continue search and rescue procedures, using drones and watercraft and specialist units from the far northern region that have come up from Cairns to assist in the search,” he said.

“We are looking at crocodiles and determining which ones may be looked at being captured.”

The search will continue into the night while it remains safe for personnel.

“At the moment we have about five police, we’ve got probably a total of 15 external resources all coming up from Cairns,” he said.

“Some are local and some from Cairns assisting the search.”

The man was fishing from a spot on the river known as Crocodile Bend, around 500m upstream from the Annan River Bridge.

The fishing spot is a well-known crocodile habitat, with a 5m crocodile still visible as police and rangers searched for the man.

A Cooktown resident, who wished to remain anonymous, said there was a well-known crocodile who had made that stretch of the river his territory.

The man said a crocodile expert had recently taken drone footage of the reptile at that spot and estimated it to be 4.8m long.

He said the crocodile may have come to associate people with food due to it being fed roadkill upstream from the site.

“People throw roadkill in for it to eat and he could have been sitting there 15ft under the water waiting for a feed,” he said.

“We have had a bit of rain so the bank would be soft and even if he wasn’t near the edge it could have fallen away beneath him.

“It’s just horrendous and everyone is feeling about the family, to watch that happen in front of you is unthinkable.”

A Department of Environment Science and Innovation spokesman on Sunday said wildlife officers were assisting Queensland Police with this missing person incident.

“Wildlife officers from Cairns travelled to Cooktown last night and conducted a preliminary site inspection of a section of the Annan River,” he said.

A large crocodile photographed last month at Crocodile Bend who has been know by locals to live in the area. Photo: Le Long

“So far, we have not located a crocodile that is believed to be involved in the incident.

“Intensive surveys of the river will be conducted today, including land-based and drone surveys.

“Additional wildlife officers are on standby to travel to Cooktown should they be required.”

He said they reminded everyone that Cooktown was “Croc Country” and urge everyone to be safe.

Cook Shire Mayor Robyn Holmes said it was a truly tragic incident that will have a deep impact on the community.

“Our thoughts are with the family it sounds like a very unfortunate accident,” she said.

“There is always a large impact on the community when anyone looses their life in the area.”

She said both the Annan and Endeavour Rivers were fairly well know habitat for large salties.

“This is unprecedented and unfortunate and its not something that happens often.”

Ms Holmes asked the community to be considerate when commenting on the incident while the family goes through such a hard time.

Cook Shire Mayor Robyn Holmes.

“There will be a lot of comment on social media but it is terribly important to respect the family’s privacy as they navigate the difficult days ahead,” she said.

“The circumstances are quite tragic and I think we just have to allow the authorities to conduct their investigation and do what they can in conjunction with the family.”

Duane Amos, Katter Australian Party candidate for Cook, said it was vital to highlight the risk that crocodiles pose to Far North Queensland residents and visitors.

“My thoughts are with the family during this sad time. This should have been the trip of a lifetime, visiting our wonderland of The Cape,” Mr Amos said in a post.

“We need to continue to highlight the risk that crocodiles pose to our residents and visitors to our Far North. Our role is to protect and keep our communities safe and we will keep doing that,” he said.

“Forty-nine deaths from crocodiles since December 1985 is devastating, it’s not a number, it’s a loved one that has again been lost today.”

The Katter Party has previously urged the state government to overhaul its crocodile management program to allow the endangered species to be culled.

In May, they proposed a sweeping law reform that would allow Indigenous-led trophy hunting of crocodiles, however last month was quashed in parliament.

At the time Queensland parliament speaker and Mulgrave MP Curtis Pitt ruled the proposed bill was out of order and would need to be discharged or withdrawn because it was introduced without a message of recommendation from the Governor.

Edward Baidham Morrison Warusam was tragically killed after being attacked by a crocodile near Saibai Island in April. Picture: Supplied

The attack follows the tragic death of 16-year-old Edward ‘Baidham’ Morrison Warusam, who was killed by a 4m crocodile on Saibai Island in the Torres Strait in April, and a fatal attack on Laura publican Kevin Darmody, 65, who vanished while fishing at Kennedy’s Bend at Lakefield National Park in April 2023.

Mr Darmody was described by friends as “a legend of a bloke” who “would help you out anywhere” when they paid tribute to him after his death.

Kevin Darmody was killed by a crocodile in 2023.

The former Quinkan Hotel publican was fishing at Kennedy Bend when his friend heard a yell and splashing noises.

Originally published as Man attacked by crocodile in Cooktown, Far North Queensland, feared dead