Crocodile suspected of deadly Queensland attack is captured and killed

Wildlife officers euthanise 4.3m estuarine crocodile believed to have killed New Zealand-born tourist Cindy Waldron in far north Queensland

Australian Associated Press

Friday 3 June 201610.38 BST

Wildlife officers have captured and put down a 4.3 metre-long crocodile believed to have killed the New Zealand-born tourist Cindy Waldron in far north Queensland.

Officers from Queensland’s environment department removed the estuarine crocodile from the near the beach in the Daintree national park where Waldron was taken on Sunday night, before killing it “humanely”.

“Wildlife officers believe the 4.3m crocodile is the target animal due to its size and location,” Queensland police said on Friday.

“The 4.3m estuarine crocodile was humanely euthanised. It is being transported to a secure facility in Cairns.”

Police wanted to examine the remains of the crocodile to determine if it was responsible for the fatal attack.

It was the second crocodile removed as part of the investigation into the death of the 46-year-old, who lived in New South Wales but was holidaying in Queensland. She was dragged underwater at Thornton beach on Sunday night after venturing into the waist-deep water with her friend Leeann Mitchell.

Police had earlier requested the remains of a 2.5m-long crocodile trapped in one of three caged devices be examined.

The animal’s stomach contents were “unidentifiable” and required further analysis. A police spokesman said investigators believed the crocodile was not the one responsible but were not able to conclusively rule it out until the results of tests were returned.

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