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

Police said the man was "fishing" when he "fell into the water and failed to resurface,” on Saturday, Aug. 3

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 a news release that 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 an earlier post, Queensland Police shared that the man “went missing while fishing” in the Annan River area in Cooktown on Saturday, Aug. 3.

Related: Australian Man Survives Crocodile Attack by Biting Back: Report

“Initial investigations indicate the man had been fishing on the riverbank, when he fell into the water and failed to resurface,” police said, adding that they received a report around 2 p.m. local time that the man “had been taken by a crocodile.”

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 the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), that "there was a sighting of the crocodile earlier on," prior to the man falling into the water.

The New South Wales man who went missing was identified as Dave Hogbin by his sister-in-law Alexis Carey on news.com.au.

Related: Man Attacked by Crocodile While Trying to Swim to Shore After His Boat Capsized at Florida Park

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 a GoFundMe. 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.

Carey said Hognin's wife had been nearby and she had grabbed his arm and attempted to pull him to safety, but began slipping into the river as well, so he decided to let her go. She said that when he did, a 4.9 meter (16 foot) crocodile took him.

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.”

“I want to put a face to this tragedy – someone didn’t just get killed by a crocodile, we have lost a wonderful husband, father, son, brother, friend and doctor,” she added to the outlet. “David touched so many people’s lives that everyone deserves to know who he was and how it all ended for him.”

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