Killer croc twice as long as fisherman's boat

Wildlife officers believe the killing of an experienced fisherman in Far North Queensland was the first time two crocodiles had ever been recorded predating a human.

Andrew Heard vanished while fishing from his low-riding fibreglass dinghy near Hinchinbrook Island, north of Townsville, and his remains were later found inside two crocodiles, one of them measuring a monster 4.8 metres.

In the days after the 68-year-old had failed to make it back to his wife, who was waiting for him on their yacht, wildlife officers killed a giant male croc and a 2.8 metre female.

Andrew Heard left on a fishing trip near Hinchinbrook Island and never returned. His small dinghy was later found overturned and damaged.

Queensland's Department of Environment and Science have now detailed the search for the crocodiles in a just-released inquest report, and how the fatal 2021 attack happened.

The male crocodile that attacked and killed Heard, their report said, was more than twice as long as his 2.2-metre boat, and almost as wide.

The 4.8 metre beast was described as "a large dominant male" that led a predominantly oceanic existence and specialised in larger prey, such as turtles and dugongs.

"Crocodiles of this size are serious predators capable of attacking and consuming humans," the report noted.

Officers found serious damage inflicted on the keen angler's dinghy, which rode low in the water and had a working deck just 10cm above the surface.

"The damage to the dinghy, including bite puncture marks, and extensive hull damage, was consistent with an attack by a large crocodile," the report stated.

"Based on the evidence it would appear that the deceased was initially attacked and killed by the larger male crocodile while fishing in his boat."

The female likely came in once Heard was killed, it added.

In the report, a department officer concluded "to my knowledge this is the first time that two crocodiles have been recorded predating a human anywhere."

The attack was likely triggered by Heard disturbing the water in some form while he fished, the report said.

However it happened, he stood no chance.

The survival rate of humans attacked by four-metre-plus crocodiles is "estimated to be zero", officials said in the report.

"Estuarine crocodiles instinctively respond to any movement at the water's surface by approaching and biting or attacking the source," the report continued.

"Once estuarine crocodiles have engaged in a predatory attack they will continue until the prey stops moving, unless they determine that the prey is too large.

"Given the very large size of the crocodile, the deceased was well within the suitable prey size range, and the small size of the boat provided the deceased with next to no protection from the attack."

Police search for Andrew Heard.

Heard was described as an experienced yachtsman and fisherman.

He had sailed to the Hinchinbrook channel with his wife to fish every year over the last decade, so he knew the waters well and was wary of the crocodile threat.

On the morning of February 11, Heard had fished from his dinghy and returned to the yacht for lunch with his wife.

Around 3pm he pushed off again, telling his wife he'd be back in one-hour.

When 4pm passed, his wife tried to contact him by radio but got no response.

She raised the alarm, and early the next morning Heard's upturned boat was found.

A large piece of the hull was missing, and tooth or puncture marks were visible on what remained of the boat.

Searchers discovered a broken fishing rod and other equipment at the attack site.

Heard's wife told the coroner she had seen the crocodile responsible for killing her husband on another sailing trip, years earlier.

But department officials said there was no way to be certain of that.

A large crocodile flings a smaller crocodile through the air before eating it at Catfish Waterhole in the Rinyirru National Park in Queensland.

'Masters of camouflage'

Since being hunted to the brink of extinction in 1970s, crocodile populations have bounced back in Queensland, and especially Northern Territory.

There are an estimated 20,000-30,000 crocodiles in Queensland and 100,000 in the NT, home to the world's largest wild crocodile population.

Legendary top end fishing guide Dave Donald, known locally as "Barra Dave", said utmost respect must be paid to crocodiles.

One slip up, he said, can be fatal.

"It's not the crocodiles that's the problem," Donald told 9news.com.au.

"It's human beings who are the problem.

"If a croc ever becomes a problem and starts chasing my fish … I will leave that spot alone for a month."

Caution is key, he said.

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