Human remains have been found inside a large crocodile suspected of killing a man on a family holiday in Australia – after it emerged he probably saved his wife’s life with his “final act”.

Dave Hogbin, 40, fell into the Annan River, south of Cooktown in Queensland state, on Saturday after part of a riverbank path gave way, his family said.

The doctor from Newcastle in New South Wales was visiting what is known as Crocodile Bend, a popular spot for tourists to see large crocodiles, while travelling through Queensland with his wife Jane and three sons aged two, five and seven.

On Monday, wildlife rangers euthanised a 16ft crocodile, which had a recognisable scar on its snout, in a creek just over two miles from where Mr Hogbin disappeared.

Human remains found inside the crocodile during an examination in Cooktown are believed to be those of Mr Hogbin, a police statement said.

Further tests will be carried out to confirm the identity of the remains.

Final act likely saved wife’s life

Police initially reported that Mr Hogbin had been fishing at the time he fell, which his family later corrected.

He fell 16ft into the river after part of the bank gave way, and due to the terrain was unable to get out of the water, according to a statement issued by a friend, with his family’s permission.

Mr Hogbin’s wife heard the splash when he fell and went to help. However, “due to the steepness and slipperiness of the bank”, after grabbing his arm, “she soon began slipping into the river herself”.

“Dave’s final, decisive act was to let go of Jane’s arm when he realised she was falling in, despite knowing she was his only lifeline. Within moments, he was taken,” the statement added.

Mr Hogbin’s final act “likely saved” his wife’s life, the statement continued.

Acting police chief Shane Holmes said he believed Mr Hogbin fell by accident.

A GoFundMe has been set up by a friend of Mr Hogbin to support his wife and three children after the accident. It has so far raised over 30,000 Australian dollars.

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His death comes after a 12-year-old girl was snatched on 2 July while swimming with family in a creek in the Northern Territory.

Her remains were found days later and wildlife rangers shot dead the 14ft crocodile that killed her.

This year is close to the worst annual death toll for fatal crocodile attacks in Australia after three people were killed. Back in April, a 16-year-old boy was killed while swimming off a Queensland island.

The crocodile population has rocketed across Australia’s tropical north since the predators became a protected species in the early 1970s.

Numbers have recovered after hunting for their skins since the 1950s had almost wiped them out.

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