SYDNEY (AFP) – A fisherman whose body was pulled from the water Monday was likely killed by a large crocodile, police said, after his empty dinghy and spear gun were found in northern Australia.
The 35-year-old was fishing alone off Innisfail, south of Cairns in Queensland state, and was reported missing on Sunday evening when the boat and floating spear gun, which was pierced through a fish, were discovered.
“Initial investigations suggest the man may have been taken by a crocodile,” Queensland police said, adding that they believe it was a four-meter (13-feet) beast.
It was the second blow in a month to the local spear fishing community after a man recently had his leg ripped off by a shark at nearby Hinchinbrook Island, the newspaper said.
The latest tragedy came only a day after a teenager escaped the jaws of a crocodile by punching it in the head during a late night swim in a river close to Innisfail. The 18-year-old suffered extensive injuries to his left arm after being dared to jump in by his friends.
