The body of a missing fisherman has been found inside two crocodiles killed by wildlife officers in Australia.
The grim discovery was made after a two-day search in a remote area of northern Queensland for Kevin Darmody, who vanished while fishing with friends on Saturday.
The 65-year-old experienced fisherman was last seen at a spot called Kennedy’s Bend in Lakefield National Park.
On Monday night, wildlife officers found two crocodiles, measuring 4.1m and 2.8m, about a mile from where Mr Darmody was last known to have been.
Michael Joyce, Queensland Government’s department of environment and science northern wildlife operations manager, told ABC News rangers killed the crocodiles “together … within 10 seconds of one another”.
Human remains were reported to have been found inside both reptiles.
Mr Joyce said it was unusual to find two crocodiles feeding on the remains from one attack.
“We didn’t believe it was common but this is the second time this has occurred, the last one was during the Hinchinbrook fatality, and it is certainly something we’re learning,” he added.
In 2021, the remains of fisherman Andrew Heard were found inside two crocodiles killed on Hinchinbrook Island in northern Queensland.
Queensland Police said a report was now being prepared for the coroner after human remains were located within two crocodiles euthanised by Department of Environment and Science (DES) wildlife officers.
The force said it believes the remains are those of the missing 65-year-old man from the town of Laura, pending the formal identification process.
“Officers believe the two crocodiles (4.1m and 2.8m) were involved in an incident with the 65-year-old and were located upstream from where he was last seen”, a police spokesperson said, “Search and rescue operations in Lakefield have been discontinued at this time. Police will now prepare a report for the corner.”
The Queensland Government, which has a “Be Crocwise” advice page, warns those near waterways: “Just because you can’t see a crocodile, it doesn’t mean there is not one close by.”
Friends of Mr Darmody, who had been fishing with him, had reported hearing him yell, followed by a loud splash but no-one had witnessed what happened.
“I raced down… but there was no sign of him, just his thongs [flip-flops] on the bank and nothing else,” his friend John Peiti told the Cape York Weekly.
Mr Darmody’s family paid tribute to the publican and spoke of their shock. His brother Pat Darmody told the local newspaper it was “unbelievable”.
“The amount of times he’s been fishing in that area with no problem … I’m stunned,” he said.
Another brother, Dave Darmody, recalled how the three of them travelled together when they were younger on the rodeo circuit. “He was a very good bull rider,” he said.
There are estimated to be 20-30,000 crocodiles in Queensland since a ban on hunting them was brought in in 1974.
It advises those fishing to stay “at least 5m back from the water’s edge” using a tackle box as a barrier.
Maurice Saatchi: I used to adore capitalism – then I had lunch with Margaret Thatcher