NT crocodile attack: Cahills Crossing victim remembered as ‘beautiful man’

MAN believed to have been killed by a crocodile at Cahills Crossing near Kakadu National Park will be remembered as a “beautiful man”

MAN believed to have been killed by a crocodile at Cahills Crossing near Kakadu National Park will be remembered as a “beautiful man”.

West Arnhem Regional Council Mayor Lothar Siebert knew the dead man, who leaves behind a partner.

“I’ve known him since he was a kid, he was a beautiful man. An asset to the community that has now lost him,” Mr Siebert said.

The victim, 47, was travelling with two women when he was believed to have been killed by a 3.5m crocodile while trying to cross East Alligator River.

It is understood the women did not see the attack happen.

A 47-year-old man is believed to have been taken by a crocodile at Cahills Crossing while walking across with two women. The wreckage of a LandCruiser is from a separate incident. PICTURE: Katrina Bridgeford

Superintendent Warren Jackson said the man was just “trying to get home”.

He told a press conference yesterday morning that until police received medical evidence that the cause of death was a crocodile attack they could not rule out other possibilities.

“They were just trying to get home ... with no vehicle available they’ve tried to get back to the other side of the river,” he said. “We are unsure if there was actually an attack or how the incident occurred ... it was reported to us about 4pm.

“Until we get some medical evidence that suggests there was an actual attack we’re just unsure.”

A 3.5m crocodile was shot last night after it was found in the vicinity of the man’s body.

“Testing will be undertaken on the crocodile to see if there is any evidence to suggest it was an attack or if it was after the attack, so to speak,” Supt Jackson said.

A crocodile warning sign at Cahills Crossing. PICTURE: Katrina Bridgeford

The road at Cahills had only reopened a day before the incident after being closed due to heavy rains in the area.

National Parks director Sally Barnes said Kakadu rangers sent their condolences to the man’s family and friends.

“Many thanks to our park staff, who have as they always do, gone above and beyond the call of duty to help the police with their operation,” she said.

“I’m extraordinarily proud of all of those involved — for their professionalism, their respect and their resilience.”

Palmerston man Justin Hansen regularly visits Cahills Crossing and said locals ignore the warning sign and often enter the water.

He said six weeks ago he saw teenagers wading waste deep into East Alligator River only metres from the site of the fatal attack.

Palmerston man Dustin Hansen has seen plenty of people act recklessly at Cahills Crossing. PICTURE: Katrina Bridgeford

Fishermen stood on the sandy banks casting a line into the croc-infested waters.

He said the wreckage of a LandCruiser swept off the crossing had appeared in the six weeks since his last visit.

“The kids were down here, they were teenagers. Then later on the guys were standing down on those rocks,” he said.

“It’s a bloody croc-infested river. The kids didn’t have a care in the world. They were waist deep. Even I’m not that stupid. There’s no way I would even attempt to walk across it and there’s no way I’d consider driving across that.” Mr Siebert said people were regularly forced to make the treacherous crossing, and a bridge and more accessible roads needed to be built. “If that was in Darwin, or in Sydney or in Brisbane, people would be doing something about it,” he said.

“You’ve got a black spot there, and someone’s got to take responsibility. Until then more people are going to die.”

The last fatal attack at Cahills Crossing occurred in 1987 when a 40-year-old fisherman was decapitated by a 5.1m croc, and cars regularly get stranded at the spot.

Last month, a family of seven spent a terrifying night clutching to the roof of their submerged car in the croc-infested waters after it was washed off the flooded road.

The East Alligator River was flowing steadily yesterday less than a day after the man vanished. The entry to the crossing is clearly marked with Crocwise signs warning pedestrians not to walk across the flooded path. “There are signs up saying don’t go in the water but people do. And unfortunately he’s paid for that with his life,” Duty Superintendent Bob Harrison said.

There have been 70 croc attacks in the Territory since they became a protected species in 1971, 22 of which were fatal.