Australian authorities said Tuesday that human remains found inside the crocodile’s body are believed to belong to a 40-year-old tourist who went missing on Saturday.
Dave Hogbin, a doctor from Newcastle, New South Wales, was missing after falling down a steep slope while travelling with his wife Jane Hogbin and their three sons. according to Associated Press (AP).
The area, known as Crocodile Bend, is a popular tourist spot due to the large reptiles that live in the area, according to the Associated Press.
Wildlife officials on Monday euthanized a 16-foot-long alligator found in a creek about 2.5 miles from where Hogbin went missing, according to the outlet. Authorities said the alligator had a scar on its snout and resembled one described by witnesses in the area where Hogbin went missing.
The body is believed to be that of a missing tourist, but further tests are needed to definitively identify it, The Associated Press reported, citing a local police statement. (Related: Report: 200 Alligators Flood Streets After Storm Beryl).
Gruesome discovery: Police say human bones have been found inside a large crocodile believed to have killed a tourist in Australia’s second deadly attack in just over a month. https://t.co/NOG2Iuoy8p
— WPLG Local 10 News (@WPLGLocal10) August 6, 2024
a GoFundMe A letter prepared for the family stated that Hogbin had broken into the bank and that his wife, Jane, had tried to pull him out.
“The bank was steep and slippery, and Jane was able to grab hold of Dave’s arm, but she began to slide into the river herself,” the fundraiser said. “When Dave realized Jane was about to slide into the river, his final decision was to let go of her arm, an action that likely saved her life.”
“He saved me. His final act was not to get me involved. I’m glad I’m still here because it could have ended a million times worse for not only my sons but everyone involved,” Jane said, according to the Associated Press.
According to GoFundMe, none of Hogbin’s children witnessed the incident.
According to the Associated Press, there have been three crocodile fatalities in Australia in 2024. On July 2, a 12-year-old girl was carried off by a crocodile while swimming with her family. On April 18, a 16-year-old boy was also attacked by a crocodile while swimming.
