The northeastern region of Australia is once again under the spotlight following the tragic death of Dr. Dave Hogbin, a 40-year-old New South Wales resident, in a deadly crocodile incident.
This is the second such attack within a month and the third for this year, raising concerns about the increasing interactions between humans and these dangerous creatures in Queensland and the Northern Territory.
Dr. Hogbin was holidaying with his wife, Jane, and their three young children in Cooktown, Queensland. On the afternoon of August 3, 2024, he was walking along a path on a steep riverbank near the Annan River when a portion of the bank suddenly collapsed beneath him, causing him to fall into the water.
Local Cooktown resident Bart Harrison characterized the area as infamously hazardous due to the presence of large crocodiles. “We grew up watching the crocs swim around there, and I wouldn’t go near that edge,” said Harrison.
Jane Hogbin described the chilling moment she heard the splash and ran to assist her husband. It was a typical day of their vacation until the sudden incident. She tried to pull him to safety but began slipping into the river herself. In his last act of selflessness, Dr. Hogbin let go to prevent his wife from falling in, thereby sacrificing his own life.
Soon after the incident, a search operation was initiated to find Dr. Hogbin and the emergency services were alerted to the Annan River Bridge. By Monday, wildlife officers had located and euthanized a 16-foot crocodile in a nearby creek, about two miles away from the attack site. The reptile displayed distinctive scars on its snout, leading authorities to believe it was the one involved in the attack. Human remains found within the crocodile are presumed to be those of Dr. Hogbin, pending formal identification.
Dr. Hogbin, a beloved general practitioner at Jewells Medical Centre near Belmont, Newcastle, was known for his dedication to pediatrics, dermatology, and acute care. His medical career was marked by his passion for these fields. A lover of outdoor activities, he especially enjoyed four-wheel driving and camping with his family. His wife emphasized that despite doing everything correctly, the tragedy still took place. She shared that her husband had significantly impacted many lives and felt it was important that everyone understand who he was and the nature of his unfortunate demise.
The tragic event has left Dr. Hogbin’s family and friends deeply affected by his loss. To assist during this trying period, his friend Alex Ward started a GoFundMe campaign to support his wife and their three sons, aged two, five, and seven. As of August 6, the page had raised more than $35,000. Ward praised Hogbin for his commitment to his family and love for adventure, acknowledging the profound sense of loss while expressing gratitude for the overwhelming support received.
This unfortunate incident adds to the growing list of crocodile attacks across Australia’s tropical north. Just a few weeks prior, a 12-year-old girl lost her life to a crocodile while swimming with her family in a Northern Territory creek. In April, a 16-year-old boy was killed by a crocodile while swimming off a Queensland island. These incidents bring the total number of fatalities from crocodile attacks in Australia this year to three, approaching the highest yearly total of four recorded in 2014.
The crocodile population in Australia’s tropical north has surged since the species was protected under Australian law in the 1970s. These reptiles can live up to 70 years and have flourished, resulting in more frequent encounters with humans. Brandon Sideleau, a crocodile expert at Charles Darwin University, points out that feeding crocodiles with roadkill, such as kangaroo carcasses, has led these predators to associate humans with food.