TOWNSVILLE, Australia -- A large crocodile mauled and drowned a man at Jardine River on Australia's far north Cape York Pensinula Friday as his wife and children watched horrified from the river bank.
Casey Bond, 48, was swimming out to assist a ferry which had broken down and which was carrying some other relatives when the crocodile struck, dragging him under.
Police Sergeant Trevor Crawford said the attack had devastated the whole local community.
'His wife and children were on the bank and relatives were actually on the ferry. They are just devastated...the whole community is devastated,' he said.
Crawford said they had recovered Bond's body 'more or less intact' but it had suffered severe teeth wounds.
He said it is the nesting season and crocodiles become more dangerous during this time. A male defends the female and the female defends her nest.
Wildlife authorities were searching for the crocodile with plans to relocate it.
Crawford said the last crocodile fatality in the area was six years go when a man was taken while sleeping on the bank of a creek.
