Remains Found in Search for Australian Fisherman

Remains Found in Search for Australian Fisherman
An estuarine crocodile in the Adelaide river near Darwin in Australia's Northern Territory on Sept. 2, 2008. Greg Wood/AFP via Getty Images
AAP
By AAP
Updated:

Human remains have been found during a search for a missing fisherman on a tropical Queensland island, as the hunt for a killer crocodile continues.

Police, SES and wildlife officers have been searching for the missing 69-year-old since he went fishing in a creek on Hinchinbrook Island about 3 p.m. on Thursday.

The man was due back after an hour but failed to return and could not be contacted by radio, prompting his wife to call police.

His boat was found on Friday morning damaged and upside down in Gayundah Creek on the southwestern side of the island, located between Cairns and Townsville.

The damage to the boat indicated it was “highly likely” a crocodile was involved, the Department of Environment and Science (DES) said on Friday.

Human remains were found in the area by wildlife officers on Friday night, the DES and Queensland Police confirmed in a statement.

“At this stage, police believe the remains are those of the missing man, however forensic testing will be required to confirm this,” it said.

The search for more remains continues, as does wildlife officers’ hunt for the crocodile believed responsible.

By Tiffanie Turnbull
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