Croc suspected of fatally mauling Cairns spear fisherman killed by wildlife officers

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Suspected killer-croc killed1:45

Authorities say they have caught and killed a crocodile suspected of killing a man in North Queensland.

• March 22nd 2017
• 5 days ago
• /video/video.news.com.au/News/

Warren Hughes, 35, died after a suspected crocodile attack while spear fishing south of Cairns.

A CROCODILE suspected of fatally mauling a Cairns spear fisherman has been killed by Queensland wildlife officers.

The four metre croc is believed to have taken Warren Hughes, as he fished shallow waters south of Innisfail on Saturday afternoon.

Warren Hughes, 35, died after a suspected crocodile attack while spear fishing south of Cairns.Source:Supplied

The 35-year-old fisherman’s death came just hours before another crocodile attack in nearby Innisfail, where 18-year-old Lee De Paauw had his arm mauled by one of the saltwater reptiles after jumping into the infested Johnstone River on a dare.

Lee De Paauw, 18, was mauled by a crocodile after jumping into Innisfail’s infested Johnstone River. Picture: Channel 9Source:Channel 9

Wildlife officers have also set a trap to catch that animal.

Mr Hughes’ body was discovered by water police at Palmer Point about 8am Monday.

A search was launched for him on Saturday evening when his empty dinghy and spear gun were found at Palmer Point.

During the search, on Sunday night, a police vessel was charged at by a four metre croc, which is characteristic behaviour of the reptiles when they are protecting a food source.

Police and wildlife officers began hunting the animal after Mr Hughes’ body was retrieved from the water.

The debate around crocodile culling has emerged again. Picture: Clive HydeSource:News Limited

It was located about 10pm Tuesday and “humanely euthanased” according to Queensland Environment Minister Steven Miles.

“It is believed to be the same crocodile wildlife officers pursued in the area on Monday night, they located it but it submerged and stayed out of sight,” he said.

“I want to thank our incredible team of wildlife officers who do a difficult, and in cases __like this, very dangerous job.

A trap that has been set in the Johnstone River where Lee de Paauw was attacked by a crocodile. Picture: Anna RogersSource:News Corp Australia

“I also want to thank QPS for their assistance and the local community for their co-operation in staying away from the area while EHP wildlife officers pursued the animal.”

The twin Innisfail attacks came, coincidentally, amid calls from Queensland’s two Katter’s Australia Party MPs to cull crocodiles in the state’s waters.

Opinions on crocodile culling in Queensland are divided.

While many advocate the controlled killing of the dangerous saltwater creatures, others, such as Whitsundays MP Jason Costigan, insist most people are wary enough not to enter crocodile-infested waters.