Fatal attack on fisherman the first recorded case of two crocs hunting human

A crocodile attack that claimed a fisherman in North Queensland in 2021 could be the first recorded incident of its nature.

Andrew Heard

Queensland’s environment department believes the case of a fisherman killed in a crocodile attack near Hinchinbrook Island in the state’s far north is the first ever recorded instance of two crocodiles predating a human.

The remains of 69-year-old retiree Andrew Heard were discovered inside both a 4.86m male crocodile and a 2.85m female crocodile after he went missing while fishing in 2021.

Mr Heard had been fishing the Gayundah Creek in the Hinchinbrook Channel in a 2.2m fibreglass tender that sat “very low” in the water when he was killed sometime after 3pm on February 11, 2021.

His wife, who was on the couple’s yacht and raised the alarm when he didn’t return, raised concerns with the Coroners Court of Queensland about how the attack unfolded, saying she believed Mr Heard was sitting in the moving boat when he was set upon.

“Understandably she has expressed concern about the violence and predatory nature of such an attack and the potential danger to the fishing community,” coroner Christine Roney wrote in non-inquest findings published this week.

Police search waters off Hinchinbrook Island for the missing man Andy Heard believed to have been taken by a crocodile. Picture Supplied

Mr Heard’s wife told the coroner’s office her husband was experienced in crocodile habitats and it was unlikely he would have been provocative or drawn attention to himself.

The keen barramundi angler had been to the Hinchinbrook region to fish every year in the decade before his death.

The Department of Environment and Science investigated the attack and concluded that it was likely Mr Heard was fishing when he was attacked. His broken fishing rod was discovered at the scene.

“Based on the evidence it would appear that the deceased was initially attacked and killed by the larger male crocodile (4.86m) while fishing in his boat,” the department wrote.

“The female likely came in once the man was killed to assist in dismemberment and consumption.

“While it is not unusual that a male crocodile would share a large meal with another female, to my knowledge this is the first time that two crocodiles have been recorded predating a human anywhere.”

The department said the larger crocodile was more than twice the length of Mr Heard’s dinghy and almost as wide.

“Given the very large size of the crocodile, the deceased was well within the suitable prey size range, and the small size of the boat provided the deceased with next to no protection from the attack,” it wrote.

“As the survival rate of humans attacked by large crocodiles >4m is estimated to be zero, the deceased had almost no chance of survival once attacked.”

Police search waters off Hinchinbrook Island for the missing man Andrew Heard. Picture Supplied

The department said there was extensive damage including bite and puncture marks to Mr Heard’s boat.

“The nature of the damage to mangroves near the water’s edge at the attack site suggested that the deceased had attempted to rapidly pull himself up and out of the boat/water at some stage,” the report said.

“As estuarine crocodiles instinctively respond to any movement at the water’s surface by approaching and biting or attacking the source – they are even known to bite/attack inanimate objects such as floats – it is likely that the attack was triggered by the deceased disturbing the water in some form whilst fishing, for example splashing.”

The coroner ruled Mr Heard’s death was the result of an animal attack.

Ms Roney took into account an independent expert committee review that found the department’s crocodile management program to be ‘pragmatic, robust and fit-for-purpose’ and described its scientific research program into crocodiles as being “world-class”.”

“In conclusion, I note that the department is required to balance two competing responsibilities regarding its management of estuarine crocodiles – supporting the long-term conservation of wild populations of crocodiles within their normal range whilst reducing the risks to public safety,” she wrote.

The remains of Far North Queensland publican Kevin Darmody, 65, were also found in two crocodiles after he was attacked in Rinyirru (Lakefield) National Park in April.

Originally published as Fatal attack on fisherman the first recorded case of two crocs hunting human