SYDNY MORNING HERALD (Australia) 17 August 05 Croc shot after attack on fisherman (Mark Todd)

The huge crocodile believed to be responsible for an attack on a man in far north Queensland has been identified and destroyed by Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service officers.

However, searchers have found no trace of the victim, Barry Jeffries, 60, of Townsville, missing since the attack at dusk on Tuesday afternoon.

Mr Jeffries was fishing with wife Glenda in the Lakefield National Park on Cape York Peninsula, north-west of Cooktown, when a 400 kilogram crocodile capsized their canoe.

Mrs Jeffries told police her husband had tried to fend off the crocodile with a paddle but was dragged out of the canoe and under water by the crocodile.

Queensland Police Superintendent Mike Keating said the QPWS officers would examine the body of the crocodile before deciding whether to continue the search for Mr Jeffries.

The man's family was making its way to Cairns to comfort Mrs Jeffries, who had to swim ashore and drive for 20 minutes to raise the alarm at a ranger station. She is being treated for shock in hospital.

http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/croc-shot-after-attack-on-fisherman/2005/08/17/1123958090492.html?oneclick=true



THE AGE (Melbourne, Australia) 17 August 05 Suspected killer croc shot dead

The crocodile believed to have dragged a Queensland fisherman out of a canoe on Cape York Peninsula has been shot dead.

But the search is continuing for the body of the 60-year-old man.

Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service researcher Mark Read said the 400kg crocodile believed to have attacked Barry Jeffries was shot just after 4pm (AEST) on Wednesday.

The croc had approached Mr Jeffries' canoe as he and his wife Glenda were fishing in the Midway Waterhole in Lakefield National Park on dusk Tuesday.

Rangers have said the reptile was lured to the side of the canoe as one of the couple reeled in a baited fishing line.

The reptile lunged at Mr Jeffries, who tried to fight it off using a paddle, but it grabbed his arm, capsized the canoe and disappeared into the waterhole.

Mrs Jeffries managed to swim ashore and raise the alarm.

Dr Read said the crocodile was found in the same waterhole where Mr Jeffries was taken.

The search for his body is continuing.

Queensland Environment Minister Desley Boyle, who was in Cooktown on Wednesday, said the crocodile was lured to the couple's canoe as one of them reeled in a fishing line.

"The crocodile followed the bait to the boat," she told AAP.

She said she had been briefed by rangers who told her that's what had happened.

Tourist operators who know the area well believe the crocodile involved in the attack was an old animal which has lived in the water hole, and others nearby, along the Normanby River for many years.

http://www.theage.com.au/news/National/Bait-lured-croc-to-couples-canoe/2005/08/17/1123958117303.html?oneclick=true

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