‘Dumb ways to die’: Pair lambasted for reckless act in croc-infested river

Two men “testing the depth” of the Jardine River by appearing to wander aimlessly waist-deep through the water have been slammed for their reckless act.

Two men wading waist deep in a Far North river known to be home to plentiful crocodiles and posting the video to social media have been slammed for their behaviour.

One of the men is brandishing a gun while the other appears to have a beer in his hand.

The song Dumb Ways To Die accompanied the video.

Many commenters said if a crocodile was coming for them, they would not see it coming until it was too late.

A Department of Environment and Science (DES) spokesman said DES did not condone people ignoring Crocwise messaging in croc country to achieve social media notoriety.

“DES wildlife officers work hard to equip people with the tools and education they need to be Crocwise, and it is frustrating to see people take unnecessary, life-threatening risks in known crocodile habitat,” he said.

Queensland crocodile numbers are estimated at between 20,000 and 30,000 by the Department of Environment and Science (DES). There are 100,000 crocs in the NT but DES says Qld won't get to that number due to lack of habitat. Picture: Tommy Hayes

“People are responsible for their own safety in croc country.”

It is illegal to shoot a crocodile in Queensland, where they are protected under the Nature Conservation Act.

Gunggandi traditional owner and North Queensland Land Council director Warren Martens said the video was appalling.

“I can’t believe this sort of stuff is still happening in Far North Queensland, and the law doesn’t do anything about it – the government needs to look seriously at this behaviour, there needs to be consequences,” he said.

He said First Nations people were upset by the push from Katter’s Australian Party to cull crocodiles.

Kevin Darmodywas taken by a crocodile while fishing at Lakefield National Park on April 29. Picture: Facebook

“A lot of people have totem connections with crocodiles, and storylines through crocodiles – it’s like shooting a coat of arms,” he said.

He said there was no scientific evidence supporting culling crocodile numbers.

And he said Indigenous people were rarely taken by crocodiles.

“Aboriginal people coexisted for well over 60,000 years with crocodiles,” he said.

“You’re just asking for trouble – swim in a swimming pool or a freshwater creek.”

The video surfaced just a week after 65-year-old Laura publican Kevin Darmody was snatched from the banks of the North Kennedy river at Lakefield National Park.

Prominent conservationist Bobn Irwin was legislative change to make behaving recklessly in croc habitat an offence. Picture: Tommy Hayes

Human remains were subsequently found in two crocodiles shot by authorities.

The Environmental Defenders Office (EDO) and conservationist Bob Irwin are meeting with State Environment Minister Meagan Scanlon on May 16 to lobby for changes to the law for people behaving recklessly in crocodile habitat.

They propose that “reckless” means engaging in behaviour that carries a substantial risk where the risk cannot be justified.

The proposed legislation calls for $2300 on-the-spot fines and a maximum penalty of $11,500.

Originally published as ‘Dumb ways to die’: Pair lambasted for reckless act in croc-infested river