HUNT FOR A KILLER CROC
FAMILY COMES TO GRIPS WITH FATE OF PORT DOUGLAS WOMAN
Fears for missing grandma after remains found
Warning larger beast may lurk in deadly river
Katter party renews call to cull reptiles
WILDLIFE officers are expected to set traps for a crocodile believed to have taken an elderly woman missing near Port Douglas as her family comes to terms with their worst fears.
Authorities are yet to confirm if a crocodile was involved or if remains found beside a Craiglie creek belong to 79-year-old Anne Cameron, but her granddaughter Isabella Eggins, who has been part of the two-day search, took to Facebook to confirm the family feared the worst.
“It is my deep regret to inform you that following an extensive search and the discovery of certain items as a result of that search, we have the firm belief that my mother Anne Cameron has passed away in tragic circumstances,” the post said.
“We would like to sincerely thank the Police, SES, Fire Brigade and everyone in the Port Douglas community who helped us in the search for Anne.”
The Ozcare Port Douglas resident is believed to have dementia and was last seen on Tuesday afternoon.
Clothes and “biological matter” believed to be human remains were found in an unnamed creek at the southern end of Four Mile Beach.
Far North police Acting Insp Ed Lukin said clothing and a walking stick with her name on it, along with the remains, were discovered during a search of the creek yesterday.
He said the remains were undergoing forensic testing in Cairns to identify whether they were human.
“Because of the proximity of these items and this unknown material located by this creek bank we cannot rule out a croc attack,” Acting Insp Lukin said. “We still hold out hope that we will find this missing person alive.”
A 3m crocodile was captured on Wednesday night in an EHP trap in Dickson Inlet and removed.
Ms Cameron had only been at the Ozcare facility for a few weeks and had previously left the premises, seeking the help of the public to return home.
Up to 40 SES members from coastal and Tablelands depots have been part of the search and are on standby to continue the search tomorrow if needed.
Port Douglas local area controller Sean McGuinness said the search area was relatively flat but featured difficult terrain due to dense mangroves and swamp.
Ozcare Port Douglas facility manager Daniel Robinson declined to comment on how Ms Cameron could have left without staff knowing.
“Our hearts and thoughts are with Anne’s family and we are hoping for her safe return,” he said.
Douglas Shire Council Mayor Julia Leu said it was a “dreadful situation”.
“It is absolutely tragic and my heart goes out to her family,” she said.