Rangers' Search Fails To Find Carcass Of Killer Crocodile

Sydney Morning Herald

Thursday March 19, 1987

DARWIN: Rangers have been unable to find the carcass of a crocodile shot after it killed a man in Kakadu National Park on Tuesday.

Mr Kerry McLoughlin, 40, of Jabiru, a storeman at the Ranger uranium mine, was taken while wading over a causeway across the East Alligator River during a fishing outing with his 17-year-old son.

Witnesses, including a party of six American tourists, said Mr McLoughlin slipped into the river and was swept about 15 metres downstream before being taken by a large crocodile.

Police said the man's head and part of his shoulder were missing. His remains had a gashed right leg and crushed ribs.

The regional director of the Australian National Parks and Wildlife Service, Mr Dan Gillespie, said last night a helicopter, light plane and boats were used to search yesterday for the carcass of the crocodile, which was shot by park rangers after the attack.

The search would continue today.

Mr Gillespie said the area was a popular fishing spot and a jetty or raised structure had been considered to keep people out of the water.

© 1987 Sydney Morning Herald

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