Kevin Darmody: fisherman feared dead in North Queensland crocodile attack

A fisherman is feared dead in a suspected attack by a crocodile, after screams and splashes were heard by witnesses who later said ‘his oars had been left on the bank’.

Kevin Darmody, 65, was fishing on the banks of the Kennedy River in Rinyirru (Lakefield) National Park, about 340km north-west of Cairns in remote Far North Queensland, around 3:30pm Saturday when campers screamed and splashed. heard.

It is feared he was taken by a large crocodile and emergency services are still desperate to find his presumed remains.

Authorities have resumed the search for a 65-year-old man believed to have been taken by a crocodile (stock image) while fishing in remote Far North Queensland

Mr Darmody, a publican in the rural town of Laura – about 75km from where he disappeared – was an avid fisherman who regularly documented his fishing trips on social media.

He regularly posed on the banks of rivers with barramundi and other large fish.

His most recent post, dating back to 2015, was a series of photos of a crocodile tearing up what looked like a smaller, young crocodile in a stretch of river he said was a friend’s favorite fishing hole.

Friends and acquaintances revealed that Mr. Darmody, who was also known as ‘Stumpy’, had a thorough knowledge of fishing in dangerous waters and was aware of the risks involved.

“He was not a tourist or visitor to Cape York, he is or was a resident, he knew the dangers, just bloody bad luck – in a split second you can be taken by a crocodile,” one wrote.

Mr. Darmody (pictured) was an avid fisherman who regularly documented his fishing trips on social media

His most recent Facebook post (pictured) was a series of photos of a crocodile tearing up what looks like a smaller, young crocodile in a stretch of river he said was a friend’s favorite fishing hole

Tributes poured for the missing tax collector, who ran the Peninsula Hotel in Laura, with some describing him as a ‘damn top guy’ and a ‘legend’

Bart Harrison, from Cooktown, said his friend was nearby when Mr. Darmody disappeared.

“A boy came up the road and yelled ‘he’s gone, he’s gone’ and my mate ran down the bank and said the water was all agitated and dirty, you could tell something bad had happened,” said Mr. Harrison The Cairns Post.

“He was there fishing a few minutes earlier, then he was gone, his strings were on the bank,” he added.

‘He’d lived here since I was a kid, been in the pub for a long time, went fishing a lot. He knew the river quite well, it’s really sad.

Harrison said it was common to see “a lot of big crocodiles” in the area.

“Close encounters are very common, they’re everywhere this time of year … they breed and become territorial,” he said.

Queensland Police said the search resumed at first light on Sunday morning, with help from the State Emergency Service.

A Rescue 510 helicopter is also assisting in the search and rescue operation, along with conservationists from the DES.

Police have released this image of the search area where Mr. Darmody was last seen alive

Large crocodiles are often seen in the area, according to a government website describing the campground.

The ministry says both estuarine and freshwater crocodiles may inhabit “the rivers, creeks, marshes, wetlands, waterholes and along beaches” of the national park.

The DES said it was important that all “crocodile sightings be reported in a timely manner” and said they investigated all crocodiles received.

“Rinyirru National Park is known as crocodile land and is known for its large crocodiles,” the statement said.