Human remains found in crocodile following search for missing man
Police believe human remains found inside a crocodile belong to a man reported missing from a remote region in Far North Queensland last week.
A search and rescue operation commenced on February 1 for a 60-year-old man reported missing from Aurukun, a remote Indigenous community about two hours’ drive from Weipa.
Initial information indicated the man was last seen leaving his home about 12pm on January 30, and is believed to have gone fishing at the mouth of the Ward, Watson and Archer Rivers.
Crocodiles have been sighted in flooded areas of Queensland (file image).Credit: Queensland Department of Environment and Science/Brenton Gangemi
Police, SES volunteers, wildlife rangers, aerial support, and community members were deployed to search by foot on land, and by boats in the river, in the days following.
Shortly after meeting with Aurukun Shire Council and the man’s immediate family to provide an update on the search area on Wednesday, police informed up to 300 community members gathered at the council chambers that the search had moved to a recovery phase.
On Friday evening, police and wildlife officers located a crocodile along Watson River, and humanely euthanised it.
Police have located human remains inside a crocodile as part of the recovery of a man reported missing from Aurukun.Credit: Queensland Police
Forensic testing was carried out on Saturday morning and human remains were located inside the crocodile.
Further testing will be conducted to identify the remains, though police believe they belong to the man reported missing. His family and the local council have been advised.
