A weekend fishing excursion took a tragic turn when a fisherman was attacked and consumed by two crocodiles in the Australian wetlands.
Authorities found the remains of a man who was reported missing on Saturday, April 29.
The victim, 65-year-old hotel owner Kevin Darmody from Queensland, Australia, was tragically attacked by crocodiles at Kennedy’s Bend. This saltwater river, located in Lakefield National Park, is popular for its plentiful barramundi fish but has aggressive crocodiles.
Darmody disappeared around 3:30 pm during the fishing trip. Although his companions did not see the attack, they heard screams and a large splash before he vanished. After an extensive two-day search, wildlife officers euthanized two crocodiles on Monday, May 1, less than a mile from where Darmody was last seen. The examination confirmed that Darmody’s remains were inside the stomachs of both crocodiles.
It is believed that Darmody was near the water’s edge, trying to retrieve a catch, when one or both of the crocodiles attacked him. His shoes were later found on the riverbank.
Nicknamed “Stumpy” due to his short stature, Darmody owned the Peninsula Hotel in Laura, Queensland. His friend, Bart Harrison, described him as a friendly outgoing guy. Cook Shire Mayor Peter Scott remembered Darmody as a unique individual with a strong spirit and a passion for fishing.
Michael Joyce, a wildlife operations manager at the Department of Environment and Science, noted that while it is rare for crocodiles to consume human remains, it has occurred in the past. Crocodile attacks in Northern Australia are infrequent, with Darmody’s death being the 13th fatal incident since 1985. The crocodile population in Queensland has risen from 5,000 to 30,000 following the implementation of a hunting ban in 1974.
Although rare, several alligator or crocodile attacks have recently been reported in the US. In February 2023, a Fort Pierce, Florida woman was out walking her dog near a pond. An alligator attacked her dog and when she tried to save the dog, she was attacked and killed. The dog survived the attack.
In March 2023, a Daytona Beach, Florida man was attacked by an alligator after it appeared at his front door.
In April 2023, a 72-year-old man in Florida lost his right leg below the knee in an alligator attack. The alligator was later found with a human foot protruding from its mouth.
In August 2022, a victim fell into a pond in Hilton Head, South Carolina, and was attacked by a gigantic alligator. The body was found being protected by the alligator and was later retrieved when the alligator was confronted.