Man killed by crocodile at Cahill’s Crossing near Kakadu

A 47-year-old from the remote community of Gunbalanya was killed while wading across a notorious NT crossing.

A Saltwater crocodile in Kakadu National Park.

A 47-year-old man thought to be from the remote community of Gunbalanya was killed while wading across the notorious crocodile-infested Cahill’s Crossing on the edge of Kakadu National Park yesterday.

Northern Territory Police, who last night recovered the man’s body from the East Alligator River about two kilometres downstream of the crossing, shot a 3.3 metre long reptile nearby.

Superintendent Warren Jackson said two women, as well as the man, had been attempting to cross the fast-flowing river at the time the incident occurred.

“The two females made it across. However, the male was reported missing a short time later,” he said.

“Members from Gunbalanya and Jabiru Police assisted by East Alligator Rangers conducted extensive searches in and around the area. The body was located 2km downstream in close proximately to a 3.3 metre crocodile.

“The man’s body has been transported to Darwin in order to determine the cause of death.”

Cahill’s Crossing is the only route from Kakadu National Park into permit-controlled Arnhem Land.

Cahill’s Crossing, about 300 kilometres east of Darwin, is the only route from Kakadu National Park into permit-controlled Arnhem Land. It is tidal and usually closed for part of the year, during the wet season.

The crossing is famous for its many and large crocodiles that sometimes block the path of oncoming vehicles. It is also known for crocodile attacks and dangerous swamped-vehicle rescues.

The site is popular with both fishermen and fishing crocodiles. In 1987 a 40-year-old man was decapitated by a large crocodile while he was standing in the shallows.

Some locals in Gunbalanya, about 16 kilometres further east beyond the crossing, have resisted proposals to build a bridge out of concern year-round access would invite too many outsiders into their community.

NT Police Deputy Superintendent, Bob Harrison, told the ABC it was “just foolishness” to walk across. It is understood the crossing was officially closed to all except high-clearance 4WD vehicles at the time of the attack.