Human remains believed to be those of a missing man were found inside a crocodile in northeastern Australia, police reported on Tuesday.
The 40-year-old man had gone missing in a suspected crocodile attack near the Annan River Bridge in Far North Queensland on Saturday afternoon.
“A formal identification process is underway; however, it is believed that the remains are of a missing 40-year-old New South Wales man,” Queensland police said in a statement. “Further testing will be conducted to confirm the identity.”
The search and rescue operation for the missing man has been suspended. On Monday, local media quoted a spokesman for the Queensland Department of Environment, Science, and Innovation, stating that a large crocodile, believed to be responsible for the fatal attack, was humanely euthanized. The reptile, measuring almost five meters in length, was spotted about four kilometers from where the man went missing and was identified by distinctive markings on its snout. The crocodile was estimated to be decades old.
Australian media reported that the man was at the popular fishing spot with his wife and children. Authorities are also investigating social media reports that people were seen feeding crocodiles near the scene of the incident. Feeding crocodiles is a criminal offense and can result in a fine of around $6,452 Australian ($4,188 US).
On average, two fatal crocodile attacks are reported each year in Australia. The most recent incident, in July, involved a 12-year-old girl who was killed in the Northern Territory.
