The man and his wife were fishing at a waterhole on the Normanby River when a large crocodile moved in to attack. The boat capsized when the coupled tried to fend off the animal.

Last October a family with a young baby faced a nightmare as they camped near the head of the Normanby River when a 4.2m crocodile smashed its way into their tent, dragging away Andrew Kerr, 34.

A CROCODILE is believed to have killed a 60-year-old Townsville man after his boat capsized in infested waters at Lakefield National Park on the remote Cape York Peninsula.

The region, crisscrossed with rivers and wetlands, is known as “Croc Country” and with the breeding season about to begin the region is notoriously dangerous.

The man and his wife were fishing at a waterhole on the Normanby River when a large crocodile moved in to attack. The boat capsized when the coupled tried to fend off the animal.

The woman swam ashore but could see no sign of her husband. She drove frantically to the Lakefield Ranger Station 20 minutes away.

As night fell a search of the area was conducted by five National Parks and Wildlife Service rangers, but the man could not be found.

The search resumed at first light this morning and included police and national parks personnel and the Queensland Rescue helicopter.

The Normanby river is a breeding ground for saltwater or estuarine crocodiles. Males can grow up to seven metres in length. Freshwater crocodiles are also common in the area.

Queensland Environment Minister Desley Boyle told the ABC the search had to be called off because of darkness. “We have a little tiny bit of hope, though not very much in fact,” she said.

Last October a family with a young baby faced a nightmare as they camped near the head of the Normanby River when a 4.2m crocodile smashed its way into their tent, dragging away Andrew Kerr, 34.

He was saved by the heroic efforts of 60-year-old Alicia Sorohan, who jumped on the crocodile which was shot in the head by her son Jason after mauling her.

Also published in The Advertiser.