Remains Found Inside Crocodile May Belong to Missing 40-Year-Old Man Who 'Fell' into River, Australian Police Say

Mar. 15, 2025

Dave Hogbin.Photo:Go Fund Me

Go Fund Me

Police in Australia are working to confirm the identity of the person whose remains were found inside a crocodile.

On Tuesday, Aug. 6, Queensland Police shared in anews releasethat they located human remains inside a crocodile in Cooktown, Australia, and that the coroner’s office is conducting a “formal identification process” to “determine a positive identity.”

However, police noted that they believe the remains may belong to that of a “missing 40-year-old New South Wales man,” and have suspended search and rescue efforts for him in the meantime.

In anearlier post, Queensland Police shared that the man “went missing while fishing” in the Annan River area in Cooktown on Saturday, Aug. 3.

Queensland Police

Queensland Police said it had been working alongside the Department of Environment and Science (DES) Wildlife Officers who were assisting with the search.

“Police are working with wildlife officers as investigations continue,” the police department said.

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Queensland Police Acting Chief Superintendent Shane Holmes told media outlets, per theAustralian Broadcasting Corporation(ABC), that “there was a sighting of the crocodile earlier on,” prior to the man falling into the water.

Hogbin had been on a camping trip with his wife Jane and their three sons in the Annan River near Cooktown when he opted to walk on an “established” path along the riverbank, according to Carey and aGoFundMe. Carey told the outlet that a portion of the bank collapsed, possibly due to heavy rainfall in the area, causing him to fall into the river.

His wife, Jane, told news.com.au: “He saved me – his last act was to not pull me in with him. I’m glad I’m still here, because it could have been a millionfold worse for everyone involved, not just the boys.”

source: people.com