Risk of crocodile attack – assessment.
How likely is a crocodile attack?
How likely is a crocodile attack?
SOURCE: STU HEATH.
How likely is a crocodile attack with apologies to Nick Evershed and The Guardian.
I do take exception to what Nick says and I will quote his article so that we are all on the same page: “In terms of comparative risk, Australians should worry more about climbing their ladders”
Tue 27 Aug 2013 14.44 AESTFirst published on Tue 27 Aug 2013 14.43 AEST
I will deal with that in a moment but in the meantime Nick also says:
According to the latest data, about four crocodile attacks occur per year in Australia. Photograph: Greg Wood/AFP
RISK OF ATTACK.
My own figures for attacks over the last 11 year period average approximately double that.
I have records that show attacks as 7.8 in lieu of 4, and of course this depends on one’s definition of the word “attack”.
It depends on whether or not the attack was an incident or an attack and/or on the issue of reporting.
Either way, in that period, on average each year 2 people have been killed by crocodiles.
RISK OF CROCODILE ATTACK – EXPORTS.
It should also be noted that to some extent we may be exporting the RISK OF CROCODILE ATTACKS AKA crocodile problem to other countries such as Timor-Leste.
See –
“Crocodile attack rates have surged more than 20-fold in Timor-Leste in less than a decade — and experts think crocs from the Northern Territory (NT) could be to blame.”
If that were proved to be the case, then our records are not truly comprehensive as Australian saltwater crocodiles could in reality be attacking and killing more people than is recorded, simply because they are doing it across borders.
For numbers, Nick relies heavily on the following document:
The most comprehensive review of croc attacks I am able to find is a 2005 study in the journal Wilderness & Environmental Medicine, titled: Crocodile Attack in Australia: An Analysis of Its Incidence and Review of the Pathology and Management of Crocodilian Attacks in General. The study revises other journal articles, news items and medical reports to put together a complete picture of attacks in Australia.
It might not be a fault of the report as it is, to my mind, a bit out of date, being completed in 2005.
Let’s look at some points made in the article.
CROCODILE ATTACK AND GUARDIAN ARTICLE.
Talking about the risk of crocodile attack.
- Nick says:
“The wild crocodile population has increased from an estimated 3,000-5,000 in 1971, to 75,000 in 2000. The increase in population is due to crocs gaining protection from hunters in 1971”.
Comment. I cannot be sure where Nick got his facts but perhaps he got this one from the National Geographic?
“In 1971, there were fewer than 5,000 Saltwater Crocodiles left in the Northern Territory in Australia, now there are an estimated 75,000 to 100,000.”
https://www.nationalgeographic.com.au/animals/crocpocalypse-facts.aspx
You will note that this article refers to the population of crocodiles in the wild in the N.T. The 1971 ban was imposed in the Northern Territory but Nick doesn’t make that clear.
- The Guardian article seems to hang back in the past.
Comment. The point is that from a very low base of perhaps as few as 3000 crocodiles, the population has (on Nick’s figures) exploded to 75,000 in 1971. But we are now in 2019 and there are those who think that the population is now in the vicinity of 200,000.
No-one really knows.
- The removal of eggs.
Also, Nick could have said that, despite the fact that a significant number of crocodile eggs (120,000) are taken each year, the population has increased to a level that may now be higher than the numbers existing pre-European times.
See –
“In the Northern Territory, about 120,000 eggs are taken every year, supporting an increasingly profitable egg harvesting industry, while crocodile numbers continue to increase.May 15, 2018”
Wild crocodile egg harvesting to be allowed under a government plan
https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/…/wild-crocodile-egg-harvesting-to-be-allowed-unde…
Nick goes on, “As both the human and crocodile populations have increased, so too have attacks, according to the study:”
I won’t say anything about the number of attacks in a general sense, except that it is clear that not all attacks and/or incidents are reported and/or recorded.
RISK OF CROCODILE ATTACK AND CROCBITES.
I believe that CrocBite is at the moment the best source of information but even their excellent database does not yet contain a list of all attacks.
As far as incidents go, where perhaps there was no actual attack, there is a fine line, as an incident could be an attack depending on the potential victim, a witness, or a sudden quick bite.
The other point on this is, contrary to Nick’s views on safety, incidents are also of interest. For example, both my brothers have had an incident, and these incidents could easily have morphed into attacks save for the fact that someone noticed the movements of the two crocodiles in question.
Should we ignore the incidents – wait until someone is hurt or killed and then say, “Oh, well that was definitely an attack because he has definitely lost a leg?”
I do feel compelled to something about the “falling off a ladder” comment.
Nick says, “While there has been a large increase in attacks overall, in context a crocodile strike is still a very rare occurrence. For example, in 2011, you’d have more to worry about from the common ladder – 34 people died as a result of falling from a ladder, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, and no one died from a crocodile attack.”
Again I cannot say much about his sources but an examination of either CrocBite or my own database, still under development, I might add, will show that the danger is much greater than Nick supposes:
RISK OF ATTACK – YEAR 2011
Nick is quite specific. In respect to the year 2011, he says, “no one died from a crocodile attack”.
WELL, RISK OF CROCODILE ATTACK SAYS WRONG.
I list for your consideration 8 records showing 8 attacks with 50% (4) deaths and the balance (4) lucky to survive.
- Feb 2011. A 14 year-old boy was swimming in a creek – Milingimbi Island Arnhem Land. Friends said he was bitten by a saltwater crocodile of approximately 2 metres. The body was never recovered. DEAD
- March 2011. Todd Bairstow was fishing near Weipa. He was attacked by a female saltwater crocodile 3 metres in length. A friend helped him and he was lucky to survive.
- April 2011. Kevin Eccles was attacked by a saltwater crocodile 2.5m in length. He was in a boat on the South Alligator River non-fatal. He sustained severe injuries to his shoulder during the attack. He was asleep at the time and lucky to survive.
- May 2011 Bruce Rudeforth was fishing in a boat fishing at Secure Bay near Derby W.A. when he was repeatedly attacked by a saltwater crocodile about 2.5m in length. The crocodile launched itself into the dinghy and clamped it’s (sic) jaws around Rudeforth’s upper right chest and shoulder inflicting deep puncture wounds. Fortunately, Rudeforth survived the repeated attacks.
- May 2011. A 54 year old fisherman on Elcho Island disappears while fishing, in a spot where he went fishing every day. He is known to often wade out into the water. The man is believed to have been taken by a croc. DEAD
- July 2011. While snorkelling at Berry Springs Nature Park near Darwin a woman was bitten on the neck by a saltwater crocodile of 1.5m length. The woman was snorkelling in what I would remember as one of the safest places on the planet.
- December 2011. While spearfishing in the Cairncross Islands, Cape York Peninsula, David Fordson was killed by saltwater crocodile. The body was recovered and a post-mortem determined that the cause of death was an attack by a large crocodile. DEAD
- December. DEAD
So given that there were eight crocodile attacks and four deaths in 2011, you might well be statisically safer on a ladder but those facts are wrong.
The comment “no one died from a crocodile attack” ought to be changed to four people did die and four more were in a very dangerous situation despite the fact that they survived.
Nick says further, “The number of fatal attacks also hasn’t increased significantly, despite the large increases in both the human and crocodile population since 1971.”
Will this stand scrutiny? We should look at this one too.
It is said that you can do a lot with figures. You pick the data to suit your argument and thus armed you can be quite persuasive. By the way, I am not suggesting that Nick was selective.
Shall we compare the immediate post ban era, say 11 years, with the last 11 years?
My own figures show that in the 11 year period 1971- 1981 six (6) people were attacked with one (1) fatality.
CROC ATTACKS INCREASE.
Interestingly enough, the number of attacks increased dramatically during the second half of that 11 year period e.g. from 1 attack to 5 attacks, an increase of 500%.
Even more compelling, look at my main argument.
I am talking about the comparison. That is, the first 11 year period (following the 1971 ban on hunting) vs the last 11 year period 2008-2018.
We see a dramatic change from six (6) attacks to seventy-five (75). And we can look at that as an increase in the number of attacks of + 1250%.
Fatalities jumped too, from four (4) to twenty-one (21).
With respect, I do disagree with the findings of The Guardian.
We cannot overlook the other side of attack. Trauma. psychological and physical.
RISK OF ATTACK AND RECORDS.
Records for the 11 year period following the ban.
1975
106. 26th April 1975: Peter Reimer, near
Weipa, Queensland. FATAL
Peter, 32, was killed by a 5.0m saltwater crocodile while wading in a creek
SOURCE: CrocBite 100-424
1979
107. 4th October 1979: Trevor Gaghan killed
by saltwater crocodile near Nhulunbuy, NT. FATAL
28 year old man killed by 3.5m saltwater crocodile while skindiving at Rainbow
Cliffs.
SOURCE: CrocBite 100-4241
1980
108. 15th July 1980. Bakurra Munyarryun was
attacked by saltwater crocodile in Cato River near Nhulunbuy N.T. FATAL.
The woman was fishing when she was attacked by a 5.0m croc.
SOURCE: CrocBite 100-4240
109.
25th November 1980. Paul Flanagan attacked by saltwater crocodile near Wyndham
W.A. FATAL.
Man killed by 4.0m saltwater crocodile while swimming at night.
SOURCE: CrocBite 100-4239
1981
110. 15th April 1981. Hilton Graham attacked
by saltwater crocodile in a billabong near Channel Point, Daly River NT.
Non-fatal.
A 23 year old man was attacked by a 4.0m crocodile in shallow water while he
was pushing a boat.
SOURCE: CrocBite 100-4257
111.
10th September 1981. Graeme Wilson was attacked by saltwater crocodile in
billabong on the Cobourg Peninsula. NT. Non-fatal.
28 year old man swimming when attacked by a 4.5m crocodile.
SOURCE: CrocBite. 100-4257.
Rough calculation of the numbers – E&OE
| crocodile attacks 11 year period 2008-2018 | |||
| total | fatal | ||
| 1971 | |||
| 1972 | |||
| 1973 | |||
| 1974 | |||
| 1975 | 1 | 1 | |
| 1976 | |||
| 1977 | |||
| 1978 | |||
| 1979 | 1 | 1 | |
| 1980 | 2 | 2 | |
| 1981 | 2 | 0 | |
| TOTAL | 6 | 4 |
NEXT ELEVEN YEARS.
Now let’s look at the last eleven years 2008-2018.
Records for the 11 year period leading up to the end of 2018.
2008
188.
2008 – Woman attacked by crocodile in Litchfield National Park Qld. Non-fatal.
Update: In 2008 a woman is attacked and suffers injuries to both thighs while
wading in a creek crossing in Litchfield National Park. Now, there are
designated swimming areas in the park, and then there are many river and creek
crossings that you are told to stay out of!
SOURCE: Birgit, who lives in the Kimberley
189. 17th September 2008. Kirsten Hines attacked by freshwater crocodile Throssel River W.A. Non-fatal.
SOURCE: CrocBite 100-2420
Risk of crocodile attack is real – especially right now.
190. 30th September 2008. Arthur Booker killed by saltwater crocodile in Endeavour River Qld. FATAL.
September 2008: A 62 year old man disappears from the banks of the Endeavour River (far northern Queensland). He’d been camping there and checking his crab pots. Left behind were the broken rope from the pot, a video camera on the ground and a big crocodile slide mark.
Within the next two weeks three large crocodiles are caught in the area. One of them contains the remains of a human body.
Birgit, who lives in the Kimberley
– In September 2008 a man disappeared while camping on the banks of the Endeavour River (Qld).
The man
taken while camping on the banks of the Endeavour River was Viet Nam War
veteran Arthur Booker.
SOURCE: CrocBite 100-2421.
191. 18th December 2008. Trevor Goodwin attacked by saltwater crocodile near
Weipa Qld. Non-fatal.
Trevor
was catching barramundi at False Pera Heads near Weipa when he was attacked by
a saltwater crocodile. The attack was not fatal.
SOURCE: CrocBite 100-2422
192. 2nd April 2008. Wendy Petherick was attacked by a saltwater crocodile
Walker Creek in Litchfield National Park. Qld. Non-fatal
Wendy was in Walker Creek 200 k Litchfield National Park when she was attacked
by a saltwater crocodile of 2.5m approx.
SOURCE: CrocBite 100-2419
193. 22nd
January 2008. Jason Grant attacked by saltwater crocodile Marakai Station N.T.
Non-fatal.
30 year old Jason was collecting eggs when he was attacked by a female
crocodile.
SOURCE: CrocBite.100-2418
2009
194. 12th
April 2009. 9 year old boy attacked by freshwater crocodile Upper Adelaide
River N.T. Non-fatal.
SOURCE: CrocBite 100-2428
195. 4th February 2009. Hamish Munro attacked by saltwater crocodile Ord River
W.A. Non-fatal
A 30 year old man in a boat was attacked by a 2.0m saltwater crocodile
SOURCE: CrocBite 100-2423
196. 18th April 2009. Kununurra man attacked by freshwater crocodile Lake
Argyle W.A. Non-fatal.
52 year old man swimming.
SOURCE: CrocBite 100-2429
197. 8th February 2009. Jeremy Doble attacked by crocodile Daintree area Qld. FATAL
5 year old Jeremy Doble was playing with boogie boards when he was attacked by
a well-known local 4 m saltwater crocodile C.P. nicknamed, “Yellow-Tail”
Jeremy was killed and eaten but the crocodile was sent to a crocodile farm.
SOURCE: CrocBite 100-2424
February 2009: After following his dog into the water, a five year old boy is
taken by a large saltwater crocodile in the Daintree River (far north
Queensland), in front of his brother.
ALSO reported by Birgit, who lives in the Kimberley
198. 10TH March 2009. A man attacked by saltwater crocodile Lizard Island Qld.
Non-fatal.
The man
was attacked by a 1.8m saltwater crocodile while snorkeling in Watsons Bay
Lizard Island on the Great Barrier Reef Qld. Non-fatal.
SOURCE: CrocBite 100-2425
199.
March 2009. An 11 year-old girl, Briony Goodsell, is taken by a saltwater
crocodile and killed at Black Jungle near Darwin N.T. FATAL.
March 2009: An eleven year old girl is taken by a large saltwater crocodile
while swimming at Black Jungle Billabong near Darwin, in front of her friends.
(The Black Jungle Reserve is accessible strictly by permit only. This is not a
public swimming area or in any way monitored.) Her remains are found later on
the river bank.
Birgit, who lives in the Kimberley
– In March 2009. an 11 year old Australian was attacked and taken by a crocodile at Black Jungle Swamp (Darwin NT).
Briony has been identified as Briony O’Sullivan by the Telegraph but at the coroner’s inquest the name used was Briony Goodsell.
SOURCE: CrocBite 100-2426
15th March 2009 – actual date to be confirmed.
I used the wade through the dark water at Black Jungle – barefoot.
The risk of crocodile attack back then was close to zero. Spiders and snakes were a problem, but………………………………..
200. 15th
April 2009. Man attacked by freshwater crocodile Adcock River Mornington
Wildlife Sanctuary W.A. Non-fatal.
Man floating on rubber tube attacked.
SOURCE: CrocBite 100-4297
201. 10th April 2009. Keith Parry killed by a crocodile Daly River N.T. FATAL.
APRIL 2009: Father-of-two Keith Parry, 20, was killed by a 4m croc while trying
to swim across the Daly River, south of Darwin.
SOURCE: N.T. News.
Also reported in the Sydney Morning Herald
SOURCE: CrocBite100 2427
202. 1st
October 2009. Janusz Zelfki attacked by a saltwater crocodile Bucket Billabong
Kakadu National Park, NT. Non-fatal.
A Polish man, Janusz, 57, was attacked while swimming in Bucket Billabong
Kakadu. Warning signs were visible.
SOURCE: CrocBite 100-2430
POPULATION OF CROCS INCREASES.
2010
203. July 2010. Man left tavern in Broome drunk and was attacked. W.A.
July 2010: After being kicked out of the tavern drunk, a man climbs over the fence in the Broome crocodile park and jumps onto the back of a five metre croc. Bitten badly on the legs he was lucky to escape alive. Yes, if you try hard enough you can get a crocodile to attack you even during the cool dry season!
I don’t
think we should count this one?
SOURCE: Birgit
READ ABOUT BLACK JUNGLE ADVENTURE 1963.
A risk of crocodile attack for sure, especially now.
204. 16th March 2010. A man attacked by saltwater crocodile Black Point Cobourg Peninsula N.T. Non-fatal.
45 year-old.
The men were harvesting sea cucumbers off Black Point when one man was attacked by a saltwater crocodile of 2m length. The man’s friends helped him back into the boat but not before he suffered injury to his head and his foot.
SOURCE: CrocBite 100-2431
205. 21st March 2010. Girl attacked by crocodile at Birany Birany Beach Arnhem
Land N.T. Non-fatal.
5 year old girl bitten CP 2m but survived
SOURCE: CrocBite 100 2432
206. 13th September 2010. A man attacked by saltwater crocodile Wildman River
N.T. Non-fatal.
Washing dogs in river of 3.0m length. The man was saved by his friend.
SOURCE: CrocBite 100-2433
Reported also by territory stories:
207. An attack on a man at Adelaide River, 114km south of Darwin. N.T.
Non-fatal.
The man was rushed to hospital with puncture wounds to his leg after a 4m
crocodile attacked him at the water’s edge while he was washing his dogs.
His mate rescued him by punching the crocodile.
SOURCE: Territory stories. Nt.gov.au
ADVENTURES – MY FAMILY AND FRIENDS.
208. 15th September 2010. Billy Boustead attacked by saltwater crocodile Howard River. N.T. Non-fatal.
Billy, an old school friend from Darwin High School, was bitten on the foot by
a 2.0m crocodile but suffered only minor injuries.
SOURCE: CrocBite 100-2434
SOURCE: Reported also by NT News OCTOBER 24, 2010
Bill
Boustead steps on croc while barefoot fishing. A BAREFOOT crab wrangler steps
on a crocodile while fishing, but says having his foot caught in a saltie’s
mouth is: quote “no big deal”.
SOURCE: NT News – By Sarah Crawford
SOURCE: Reported also by territory stories.
A
BAREFOOT fisherman literally got a bite when he stepped on a crocodile in
saltie infested waters.
But champion crab wrangler Bill Boustead, in his mid-60s, said having his foot
trapped in a two-metre croc’s jaws at Howards Peninsula was, “no big deal”.
“I could have grabbed him, pulled him inside out and turned him into a handbag.
There’s not even a decent scar to show my grandkids,” he told the Northern
Territory News.
The Howards Peninsula fish farmer was in the water fishing on September 15 when
he stepped on the two-metre croc.
“It happened so fast – I just touched him and he grabbed me,” Mr Boustead said.
The crocodile did not want to bite me…he was just telling me to p*** off.”
SOURCE: Territory stories. Nt.gov.au
Billy gets around. Read this fascinating story about a jar.
SOURCE:PASTMASTERS.
LINK TO PASTMASTERS STORY
209. 15th October 2010. Man attacked by saltwater crocodile Gove Peninsula N.T. Non-fatal.
The man was body surfing when he was attacked by a small saltwater crocodile 800mm in length.
SOURCE: CrocBite 100-2435
2011
210. 20th
February 2011. Boy attacked by saltwater crocodile in creek Milingimbi Island
Arnhem Land N.T. FATAL.
February 2011: During a family swimming trip a crocodile attacks and kills a
14-year-old boy at Milingimbi, 450km east of Darwin.
SOURCE: ABC.net.au
Friends said he was bitten by a crocodile of approximately 2 metres in length.
The body was never recovered.
SOURCE: CrocBite 100-2437
211. 9th March 2011. Todd Bairstow attacked by saltwater crocodile near Weipa
Qld. non- fatal.
Todd was fishing along Trunding Creek when he was attacked by a female
saltwater crocodile 3.0 meters in length. A friend helped Todd escape.
SOURCE: CrocBite 100-2438
212. 23rd
April 2011. Kevin Eccles attacked by a saltwater crocodile in the South Alligator
River, NT. Non-fatal.
Eccles was fishing in a boat with a friend. He sustained severe injuries to his
shoulder during the attack. Apparently he was asleep on the back of his boat
when the crocodile struck.
The saltwater crocodile was 2.5m.
SOURCE: CrocBite 100-2439
213. 25th
May 2011. Bruce Rudeforth was attacked by a saltwater crocodile at Secure Bay,
near Derby, W.A. Non-fatal.
The crocodile launched itself into the dinghy and clamped it’s (sic) jaws
around Rudeforth’s upper right chest and shoulder inflicting deep puncture
wounds.
May 2011: a 59 year old fisherman is injured while fishing from his dinghy when
a crocodile jumps and manages to grab him on the shoulder. The 2.5 metre croc
lets go after he rams his elbow in its throat. (Attacks by crocodiles that size
are rarely fatal. A big one might have pulled him out of the boat.) According
to a zoologist the crocodile might have associated fishermen with easy meals or
free handouts.
SOURCE: Birgit, who lives in the Kimberley.
While fishing Rudeforth was attacked by a saltwater crocodile 2.5m. He survived
what amounted to repeated attacks.
SOURCE: CrocBite 100-2440
214. 5th February 2011. Eddy Sigai attacked by saltwater crocodile Beening
Creek Napranum Cape York Peninsula Qld. Non-fatal.
37 year old man was swimming when attacked by a 2.5m croc
SOURCE: CrocBite 100-2436
215. May 2011. 54 year old fisherman Elcho island Arnhem Land N.T. FATAL.
May 2011: On Elcho Island (515 km east of Darwin) a 54 year old fisherman
disappears while fishing, in a spot where he went fishing every day. He is
known to often wade out into the water. The man is believed to have been taken
by a croc.
SOURCE: Birgit, who lives in the Kimberley.
Not listed on CrocBite.
216. 26th July 2011. Woman attacked by saltwater crocodile at Berry Springs
Nature Park, near Darwin. N.T. Non-fatal.
Comment:
The woman was snorkelling in what I would remember as one of the safest places on the planet, well at least when swimming in the N.T.
Nevertheless she was bitten on the neck b a 1.5m saltwater crocodile. This is an amazing event, from my point of view. It defines the moment.
Incidentally, it is said that she provoked the crocodile by intentionally approaching it.
SOURCE: CrocBite 100-2441
Risk of crocodile attack is ever present.
217. 5th December 2011.David Fordson killed by saltwater crocodile Cairncross
Islands Cape York Peninsula Qld. FATAL.
December 2011: The body of a 49 year old barge captain is found in remote
waters off the Cape York Peninsula. He was spearfishing and it looks like a
saltwater crocodile was responsible for his death.
Birgit, who lives in the Kimberley.
The body was recovered and a post-mortem determined the cause of death was due
to an attack by a large crocodile.
SOURCE: CrocBite 100-2442
ACTIVITY IN 2012
2012
218. 1st
September, 2012. Bennett’s boat was attacked by a saltwater crocodile South
Alligator River, NT. Non-fatal.
The boat
was attacked by a 3.5m crocodile.
On the night of 1st September 2012 a crocodile attacked Dean Bennett’s, 22,
boat while Matt, 12, and John (Snapper) Curwen -Walker, 46, were sleeping on
it. The croc viciously attacked the boat twice during a period of 90 minutes.
The crocodile took chunks out of the outboard motor.
SOURCE Nigel Adlam Northern Territory News
SOURCE Reported also by IMDb and Digital Spy 12/09/12
219. 1st
April 2012. Tara Hawkes was attacked by a saltwater crocodile near Dugong Bay
north of Derby, WA. Non-fatal.
A cruise-ship employee 23 year old Tara Hawkes sustained injuries to her legs
during the attack but was rescued by another passenger.
SOURCE: Birgit, who lives in the Kimberley.
23 year old cruise ship girl
2012: In northern Western Australia the female employee of a cruise ship was
attacked while taking a swim in a freshwater pool in an area known to be
inhabited by saltwater crocodiles. She was grabbed by the legs as she was
leaving the water.
SOURCE: CrocBite 100-2444
220. 28th October 2012 43 year old Annunciata Nunuk Wilson was attacked by a
freshwater crocodile Daly River N.T. Non-fatal.
Hunting turtles.
SOURCE: CrocBite 100-2446
221. 15th February 2012. Woman attacked by saltwater crocodile near Darwin N.T.
Non-fatal.
Woman was bitten while out walking dogs. Location not precisely identified.
Woman bitten on calf
SOURCE: CrocBite 100-2443
Risk of crocodile attack is ever present.
222. 11th October 2012. 14 year old boy attacked by saltwater crocodile Ivanhoe Crossing on the Ord River W.A. Non-fatal.
The boy was in waist deep water and sustained minor injuries to one of his legs during the attack.
The crocodile appeared to be a 2.0 m saltwater crocodile.
SOURCE: CrocBite 100-2445
223. 16th November 2012. Girl killed by saltwater crocodile at Manggabor Creek
N.T. FATAL.
The saltwater crocodile was 3.4m.
Manggabor Creek is located as an outstation of Gumarrinbang. The crocodile was
killed and the young girl’s remains were found inside the crocodile.
The 7 year old girl was swimming at a waterhole at Gumarrirnbang outstation
about 110km southwest of Maningrida.
SOURCE: CrocBite 100-2447
224. 1st December 2012. Boy attacked and killed by saltwater crocodile at Port
Bradshaw N.T. FATAL.
At False Pera Heads near Weipa DECEMBER 1, 2012:
A 4m crocodile killed a nine-year-old boy who was swimming with friends at a Territory beach at Port Bradshaw near Dhania outstation, 100km south of Nhulunbuy.
Risk of crocodile attack is real.
SOURCE:
N.T. News.
The crocodile was a 4.0m saltwater crocodile. The attack on the 9 year old boy
was fatal.
The boy was swimming with friends when the CP attacked. Others tried to rescue
him by spearing the crocodile but the crocodile escaped with the boy.
SOURCE: CrocBite 100-2448
In: DAILY.
225. 15th
December 2012. Travis Gaykamangu attacked billabong Ramingining Arnhem Land.
NT. Non-fatal.
The 16 year old boy stepped on the tail of the CP estimated to be 1.0m approx.,
prompting the attack which caused injuries to his legs.
16 year old Travis was bitten by a small saltwater crocodile while hunting
magpie geese.
SOURCE: CrocBite 100-2449
2013
226. 1st
November 2013. Girl attacked by freshwater crocodile Geike Gorge Kimberley W.A.
Non-fatal.
8 year old girl injured.
SOURCE: CrocBite 100-4805
227. 13th April 2013. A man was attacked by a saltwater crocodile near Doctors Gully Darwin, N.T. Non-fatal.
The 50-59 year old man was attacked by a 1.0m saltwater crocodile. He received a minor bite injury.
SOURCE: CrocBite 100-4362
Risk of crocodile attack is real and will get a bit more of a worry when this croc turns into a 4m plus danger.
228. 4th
May 2013. Jane Dennis attacked by freshwater crocodile at Slatey Creek Gorge
WA. Non-fatal
51 year old Jane Dennis bitten by freshie and carried for 6 hours by her
friends.
SOURCE: CrocBite 100-2451
229. 13th March 2013. Boy killed by saltwater crocodile La Djadarr Bay Dampier
Peninsula WA. FATAL.
The boy was 15 years old.
SOURCE: CrocBite 100-6973
230. 21st April 2013. A Frenchman was attacked by a saltwater crocodile Nhulunbuy Arnhem Land, NT. Non-fatal.
– In
April 2013. A young French (sic) was attacked by a crocodile in the Northern
Territory. He miraculously escaped by punching it!
Unfortunately there are many similar stories where crocodiles in Australia are
involved…
SOURCE: https://www.australia-backpackersguide.com/crocodiles-in-australia/
* April
21, 2013
Frenchman Yoann Galeran, 29, survives an attack at Nhulunbuy in Arnhem Land
despite having his head in the croc’s mouth.
SOURCE: https://www.sbs.com.au/news/australia-s-recent-croc-attacks
The Frenchman, Yoann Galeran, 29 years old, was attacked by a C.P. estimated to
be 2m in length. Yoann was swimming to a dingy located about 25 metres from the
shore of Gove Harbour in Nhulunbuy. He fought off the crocodile and swam to
safety with minor wounds.
SOURCE: CrocBite 100-2450
231. 24th
August Sean Cole attacked by saltwater crocodile Mary River NT. FATAL.
* August 24, 2013
Sean Cole, 26, killed while racing a mate across the croc-infested Mary River.
A 4.7 metre croc was later shot by rangers.
SOURCE: https://www.sbs.com.au/news/australia-s-recent-croc-attacks
AUGUST 24, 2013: A crocodile killed a 26-year-old man while swimming in the
Mary River near the Mary River Wilderness Retreat, about halfway between Darwin
and Kakadu National Park.
SOURCE:
N.T. News
SOURCE: CrocBite 100-3637
232. Date not sure. 17th December 2013 Keith Watson boat attacked and holed
THE YEARS ROLL ON.
2014
233. 26th
Jan 2014. A 12 year old boy attacked by a saltwater crocodile Magela Creek near
Mudginberry Billabong Arnhem Land NT. Non-fatal.
The boy was attacked and injured but the crocodile then attacked and killed his
friend.
Recorded the attacks on the two boys as separate attacks.
SOURCE: CrocBite 100-4809
234. 26th Jan 2014. A 12 year old boy killed by a saltwater crocodile at Magela Creek near Mudginberry Billabong Arnhem Land NT. FATAL.
January 2014: While swimming with friends at a Kakadu waterhole, a 15-year-old boy is bitten on the arm by a crocodile, which loses its grip. The animal then turns on a 12-year-old boy, who is taken in front of distraught family members and friends. His remains are found several days later by police.
SOURCE: ABC.net.au
12-year-old boy killed while swimming at Jabiru in Kakadu National Park. Another boy, 15, was bitten but released. Three crocodiles were shot in the search for the boy.
SOURCE: https://www.sbs.com.au/news/australia-s-recent-croc-attacks
SOURCE: CrocBite 100-4804
Risk of crocodile attack is a real worry in these parts.
235. 7th
June 2014. Bill Scott killed by saltwater crocodile in Kakadu National Park NT.
FATAL.
* June 7, 2014
Fisherman Bill Scott, 62, killed in front of his family by a 4.7 metre
crocodile while on his boat in the Kakadu National Park.
Fears over crocodile attacks have been reignited following the death of a man
who was taken by a 4.7 metre long crocodile in Kakadu National Park. But how
common are such attacks and who is most at risk?
Updated 9 June 2014
By Stephanie Anderson
Human remains were recovered Sunday in the hunt for a man snatched by a
crocodile in front of terrified relatives on a boat trip in northern Australia.
The
62-year-old man was taken from his boat on the South Alligator River in Kakadu
National Park late Saturday (June 7) afternoon as his wife, son and
daughter-in-law looked on.
SOURCE: NT News.
Police say the man was in Kakadu on a fishing trip with his wife, son and
daughter-in-law at a remote waterhole on the South Alligator River system when
he was taken by a 4.7m (15.3ft) crocodile on Saturday afternoon around 5pm.
Police have told media the man was in a boat and washing or emptying a bucket
at the time of the attack.
The man’s family heard splashing sounds and turned around but were not able to
save him.
The victim’s wife and daughter-in-law drove for two hours to the small town of
Cooinda to raise the alarm.
There is no mobile phone network coverage in large areas of Kakadu National
Park.
SOURCE: NT NEWS
SOURCE: CrocBite 100-4978
236. 15th
June 2014. A man was attacked by a freshwater crocodile Glenelg River Kimberley
Plateau WA. Non-fatal.
A researcher was snorkelling when attacked by freshwater crocodile of 1.8m
SOURCE: CrocBite 100-5925
237. 18th
August 2014. A Vietnamese fisherman was killed by a saltwater crocodile on the
Adelaide River. NT. FATAL.
* August 18, 2014
Albino-headed crocodile kills Lanh Van Tran, a Vietnamese fisherman, 57, in
croc-infested Adelaide River.
The man is recorded as saying, “I’m dead!”
SOURCE: CrocBite 100-5261
Risk of crocodile attack is real. This fellow understood it too late.
238. 8th September 2014. Man attacked by saltwater crocodile near Wudaduk Outstation WA. Non-fatal.
The 20 year old man was wading into the water to get a goose he had shot when he was attacked by a 2.0m saltwater crocodile.
SOURCE: CrocBite 100-5325
239. 1st august 2014. Travis Costa killed by saltwater crocodile Pirlangimpi
Community, Melville Island Tiwi Islands. NT. FATAL.
22 years old.
SOURCE: CrocBite 100-6266
240. 27th August 2014. Russian tourist attacked by freshwater crocodile Wangi
Falls Litchfield National Park NT. Non-fatal.
SOURCE: CrocBite 100-6266
CROCODILES AND MORE.
Risk of crocodile attack is real, AND DANGEROUS.
2015
241. 13th April 2015. John Lahiff attacked by saltwater crocodile Port Douglas Qld. Non-fatal.
John, a 75 year-old golfer, was playing golf when by accident he approached a basking crocodile, which jumped up and bit him. He suffered puncture wounds.
The crocodile was 1.2m.
SOURCE: CrocBite 100-5509
Risk of crocodile attack sometimes is apparently not real.
242. 16th May 2015. Chris Keeping attacked by saltwater crocodile Casuarina
Coastal Reserve near Darwin NT. Non-fatal.
* May 2015
Darwin kitesurfer Chris Keeping escapes with just scratches after he pokes a
saltie in the eye 100 metres offshore at Casuarina Coastal Reserve.
Chris Keeping, a 29 year old kitesurfer was repeatedly attacked by a saltwater
crocodile of some 2-2.5m length near Lee Point in Casuarina Coastal Reserve.
SOURCE: CrocBite 100-5548
243. 2nd May 2015. Westen Frankland was attacked by a freshwater crocodile Lawn
Hill Gorge, northwest Queensland. Non-fatal.
The
attack on the 13-year-old Tweed Valley College student from Nobbys Creek
happened when he was holidaying with his family in Lawn Hill gorge, northwest
Queensland, last weekend.
“I was swimming and he came out from behind a waterfall and all I saw was this
big jaw, wide open, and all these pointy teeth coming at me,” Weston said.
Doctors
were shocked at the croc attack, only the second at the gorge in 28 years
SOURCE: Tweed Daily News.
SOURCE: CrocBite 100-5535
EVEN FIVE STAR RESORTS ARE NOT SPARED.
244. 2nd December 2015. Michael Curwen was attacked by a saltwater crocodile Anchor Bay Lizard Island Qld. Non-fatal.
57 year old Michael snorkelling 20m offshore when he was attacked by a saltwater crocodile.
SOURCE Cairns Post
SOURCE: CrocBite 100-5839
245. 3rd July 2015. A journalist was attacked by saltwater crocodile Kimberly area W.A.
She was
swimming with a tour group in the Prince Regent River, in the Kimberly area
W.A. when the crocodile attacked and bit her on the face. The attack was
Non-fatal.
50 year old woman Rock pool near Prince Regent River
Charter boat passenger attacked by crocodile in WA’s Kimberley
SOURCE: CrocBite. 100-5596
246. 4th September 2015. Woman attacked by freshwater crocodile Wangi Falls
Litchfield National Park NT. Non-fatal.
SOURCE: CrocBite 100-5755
247. 13th September 2015. Man attacked by freshwater crocodile Wangi Falls
Litchfield National Park N.T. Non-fatal.
SOURCE: CrocBite 100-5596
TAKE YOUR CHANCES IN THE WATER.
I would say that there was a risk of crocodile attack. For sure.
2016
248. 1st
June 2016. Man attacked by saltwater crocodile Elizabeth Creek on the Daly
River N.T. Non-fatal
A 35 year old man was sitting in the boat fishing when attacked by a 2.5m
saltwater crocodile.
SOURCE: CrocBite100-4361
249. 12th
January 2016. Jackie Davies attacked by freshwater crocodile The Grotto East
Kimberly WA. Non-fatal.
25 year old woman swimming with a friend and dogs
SOURCE: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-01-13/woman-bitten-by-suspected-freshwater-crocodile-grotto-kununurra/7085948
SOURCE: CrocBite 100-5922
250. 13th January 2016. Woman attacked by crocodile at Three Mile Creek Wyndham
WA. Non-fatal.
Woman, 68, found walking along a road north of Wyndham in the Kimberley missing
half an arm after a croc attack at Three Mile Creek.
SOURCE https://www.sbs.com.au/news/australia-s-recent-croc-attacks
69 year old woman attacked while walking dogs along bank of creek Non-fatal
SOURCE: CrocBite 100-5926
251. 8th
March 2016. Renee Robertson attacked by saltwater crocodile in Townsville’s
Billabong Sanctuary. Qld .Non-fatal.
VIDEO: Croc handler ‘expected to make full recovery’
It has been reported that is expected to make a full recovery after a crocodile
bit her arm at Billabong Sanctuary owner Bob Flemming told the Courier Mail she
was expected to make a full recovery after undergoing surgery.
Daily Mercury.
252. 25th April 2016. Peter Rowsell attacked by freshwater crocodile Dorisvale
Crossing Palm Creek NT. Non-fatal.
Man was asleep in a tent. It is believed that the crocodile was a 2.7m
freshwater crocodile.
SOURCE: CrocBite 100-6060
Name is not spelled correctly.
* April 25, 2016.
A crocodile reportedly tries to drag Peter Rowsell, 19, from a tent by his foot
at Palm Creek in the Northern Territory.
Risk of crocodile attack is real – even on land.
253. 17th May 2016. Noel Ramage attacked by crocodile -died at Leader’s Creek N.T. FATAL.
* May 17, 2016
Noel Ramage, 75, drowned when a croc capsized his tinny at Leaders Creek, NT. His mate was trapped for three hours and was rescued after throwing spanners and spark plugs at the croc.
254. 29th May 2016. Cindy Waldron killed by saltwater crocodile at Daintree National Park Qld. FATAL.
* May 29, 2016
NSW woman Cindy Waldron, 46, dragged underwater during a late-night swim with a friend, who tried in vain to save her, at Thornton Beach in the Daintree National Park.
SOURCE: CrocBite 100-6125
Risk of crocodile attack was more than real in this case. RIP Cindy.
255. 29th September 2016. Cameron Timms attacked by freshwater crocodile Moonshine Gorge. El Questro. WA. Non-fatal.
14 year old boy
Boy swimming alongside family
SOURCE: CrocBite 100-6239
256. 4th November 2016. Johnny Bonde attacked by freshwater crocodile at Lake Kununurra, Kununurra WA. Non-fatal.
27 year old fell on top of the crocodile 2.5 freshwater crocodile
Coast bulletin
SOURCE: CrocBite 100-6271
2017 A YEAR FOR MORE OF THE SAME.
2017
257. 19th
January 2017. A man killed by a saltwater crocodile Cahill’s Crossing East
Alligator River. NT. FATAL.
47-year-old man killed by a crocodile after wading into a river crossing near
Kakadu National Park in the Northern Territory.
Question of the actual date
Name
20th January 2017 47 year old man with two females Cahill’s crossing disappeared
News.com.au
Jan 20 2017 47 year old killed river crossing Kakadu
*January 20, 2017
SOURCE: CrocBite 100-6331
Risk of crocodile attack is real and even more so in this very dangerous spot.
258. 18th
March 2017 Warren Hughes killed by saltwater crocodile at Palmer Point
Innisfail Qld. FATAL.
* March 20, 2017.
The body of 35-year-old Warren Hughes found two days after the spearfisherman’s
dinghy and speargun were discovered off Palmer Point, north of Innisfail. Investigations
point to him being taken by a four metre crocodile.
SOURCE: CrocBite 100-6382
259. 19th March 2017. Lee de Paauw attacked by saltwater crocodile Johnstone
River at Fitzgerald Esplanade Qld. Non-fatal.
18 years old The Johnstone River at Fitzgerald esplanade injured in an
Innsifail river.
* March 19, 2017
Lee de Paauw, 18, injured after he was dared to jump into an Innisfail river in
the middle of the night. Locals say a 3.5 to 4m crocodile had been spotted in
the area recently.
SOURCE: https://www.sbs.com.au/news/australia-s-recent-croc-attacks
SOURCE: CrocBite 100-6381
260. 9th May 2017. A 54 year old man attacked by a saltwater crocodile at
Palumpa in the Daly River Area N.T. Non-fatal.
The man was wading in water when attacked by a 2.0m saltwater crocodile
although he suffered chest and arm wounds he walked away
SOURCE: CrocBite 100-6431
261. 15th July 2017. Daryl Bell attacked by saltwater crocodile at a farm
Peters Road Mareeba, Atherton Tablelands, Qld. Non-fatal.
Trying to catch a crocodile cairns post
SOURCE: CrocBite 100-6617
262. 17th October 2017. Man attacked by freshwater crocodile at Wangi Falls
Litchfield National Park NT. Non-fatal.
36 year old man sustained minor injuries when attacked by a 1.0m freshwater
crocodile.
Supposedly two 2015
Source ABC news
SOURCE: CrocBite 100-6768
263. 11TH October 2017. Anne Cameron killed by crocodile near Port Douglas Qld. FATAL.
Human
remains found in 4.3-metre crocodile involved in death of elderly woman
Anne Cameron, 79, disappeared from aged care facility Ozcare near Port Douglas
on Tuesday last week after she went for a walk.
On Thursday, police and SES crews made a grisly discovery of human remains,
jewellery and Ms Cameron’s walking stick on the banks of a creek inlet near the
Mowbray River, north of Cairns.
Wildlife officers found and killed a crocodile in the Mowbray River system
around 1am yesterday.
Human remains and a number of items which belonged to Ms Cameron were found in
the animal, which has been euthanased.
By Casey Briggs
Updated 18 Oct 2017, 12:06am
SOURCE: CrocBite 100-6758
THE YEAR 2018 – MORE ADVENTURES
2018
264. 14th
January 2018. Man attacked by saltwater crocodile at Nagir Island, Torres
Strait Qld. Non-fatal
The man was spearfishing in an ocean/coastal area when attacked by a 3.0m
saltwater crocodile.
SOURCE: CrocBite 100-6870
265. 13th
march 2018. Samuel Birch attacked by saltwater crocodile King River Road near
Wyndham WA. Non-fatal.
A 28 year old man was untangling a net on rocks when attacked by a 2.0m
saltwater crocodile.
SOURCE: CrocBite 100-6920
266. 12th October 2018. Ranger killed at a billabong Gangan near Nhulunbuy NT. FATAL.
Police recover body of Aboriginal ranger taken by crocodile in Arnhem Land
community
Updated 13 Oct 2018, 7:44am
SOURCE: CrocBite 100-7208
Northern Territory Police have recovered the body of an Aboriginal ranger after
she was taken by a “problem crocodile” while fishing with her family on Friday.
Key points:
The Aboriginal ranger was killed by the crocodile while fishing in Gangan, near
Nhulunbuy
The crocodile has been found and destroyed by local Indigenous rangers
The victim has been remembered for her “bold personality” and sense of humour
The attack occurred at around 10:30am in the remote East Arnhem outstation of
Gangan, 177 kilometres south-west of Nhulunbuy.
Now I will readily agree that the lists are to some extent still in draft form, but frankly, although I cut and trim, I find that the numbers climb regardless.
My own quick and rough list for the period 2008-2018 E&OE.
| crocodile attacks 11 year period 2008-2018 | |||
| total | fatal | ||
| 2008 | 6 | 1 | |
| 2009 | 9 | 3 | |
| 2010 | 6 | 0 | |
| 2011 | 8 | 4 | |
| 2012 | 8 | 2 | |
| 2013 | 6 | 2 | |
| 2014 | 7 | 4 | |
| 2015 | 6 | 0 | |
| 2016 | 9 | 2 | |
| 2017 | 7 | 3 | |
| 2018 | 3 | 1 | |
| TOTAL | 75 | 22 |
As for the comment
“For example, in 2011, you’d have more to worry about from the common ladder – 34 people died as a result of falling from a ladder, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, and no one died from a crocodile attack.”
Take a look at the 4th row. You can see 8 attacks and 4 fatalities.
RISK OF CROCODILE AND LADDER ANALOGY.
In respect to the risk of a crocodile attack, one last point; it is tough if you fall off a ladder and die as a result. Perhaps it is tough too, if you fall, and live to talk about it.
Personally, I don’t think that crocodile attack victims would feel like a “ladder accident victim”, not having had to contend with those filthy teeth and powerful jaws agape. Risk of a crocodile attack is a risk of psychological and physical damage – and more.
Not with the memory of the savage power and ferocity of the crocodilian beast, ever present.
Leighton Clark.
9/01/2019