An Australian father-of-three tragically lost his life in a crocodile attack after falling into a river when a path collapsed, according to his family.
Dr. Dave Hogbin was on holiday in Queensland with his wife and three sons when the riverbank gave way, causing him to fall into the Annan River in Cooktown.
His wife attempted to pull him out, but she too started to slip down the riverbank. At that moment, Dr. Hogbin made the decision to release her arm to prevent her from falling further, a selfless act that his family has praised, calling him a “hero.”
Queensland Police stated they believed human remains found in a crocodile in Cooktown belonged to a 40-year-old man from New South Wales who had gone missing on Saturday. However, the remains have yet to be formally identified.
Journalist Alexis Carey, Dr. Hogbin’s sister-in-law, wrote that the family wanted to speak out to raise awareness of the area’s dangers and to ensure his children “know exactly how amazing a man he really was.”
Dr. Hogbin, a GP from Newcastle, New South Wales, was on a camping trip with his wife Jane and their three sons, aged seven, five, and two, when he was attacked by a 4.9m (16ft) crocodile on Saturday afternoon.
Ms. Carey clarified an initial police report suggesting he had been fishing, stating that the family had been walking along a 5m (16ft) high riverbank path when it collapsed, leaving him unable to escape the water.
She described how Jane, also a GP, slid down to try to rescue Dr. Hogbin, managing to grab his arm. However, as she too began to slip into the river, Dr. Hogbin made the decisive choice to let go, knowing it was the only way to save her.
Within moments, he was taken by the crocodile. Ms. Carey emphasized that Dr. Hogbin’s brave decision likely saved his wife’s life, allowing her to return to their children.
She added that it was a “small piece of consolation” that the children did not witness their father’s final moments.
Dr. Hogbin’s wife, Jane, reflected on the tragic event, saying: “We were just enjoying a standard day of our holiday and everything just changed within 30 seconds.
He wasn’t doing anything wrong – in fact, he was doing everything right, and this still happened… He saved me – his last act was to not pull me in with him.”
She paid tribute to her husband, describing him as a devoted father and “fiercely loyal and protective.” A GoFundMe page established to support the family has raised more than A$56,600 (£28,880).
Queensland Police stated that the remains found in the crocodile would undergo further testing for identification purposes. A report for the coroner is being prepared, and the search for the missing 40-year-old has been suspended.
Last month, police discovered human remains while searching for a 12-year-old believed to have been a victim of a crocodile attack.
In April, a 16-year-old boy died in a suspected crocodile attack in Torres Strait waters while attempting to swim ashore from a broken-down dinghy.
