In December 2003, a 13-foot (four-metre) saltwater crocodile killed 22-year-old Brett Mann in the Finniss River, 50 miles south-west of Darwin, Australia. The crocodile then trapped Mann's two friends, Shaun Blowers and Ashley McGough, both 19, in a tree for 22 hours, parading Mann's body before them in the rising floodwaters.
The Attack
Mann, Blowers, and McGough had been quad-biking along a muddy trail near an abandoned tin mine beside the river. They stopped at the water's edge for a swim. According to Blowers, Mann "lost his footing and got swept away." Both friends jumped in to help, but as they swam, McGough screamed "croc, croc." They swam to the nearest tree and climbed up, but heard no sound from Mann.
The Ordeal
The crocodile seized Mann by the shoulders and pulled him underwater, a typical hunting method for saltwater crocodiles to suffocate victims. Two minutes later, the crocodile brought Mann's body to the surface and "showed him off" to the terrified teens, then swam away. It returned to stalk the tree all night and most of the next morning.
Rescue
Blowers and McGough were located by a police search team 22 hours later and airlifted to Darwin, where they were treated for exposure and shock. Northern Territory police spokesman John McCourt said: "During the evening it was so dark they couldn't see themselves. They wouldn't have had any idea whether the waters would rise or fall. If they rose they'd probably have been done for."
Aftermath
Mann's remains were never recovered despite an extensive search. Later that month, wildlife rangers reportedly shot and killed the crocodile. Blowers' father, Greg, told The Guardian: "I just hope the rangers can find it and get our old mate Brett back, and put a bullet in its head."
Context
Australia's Northern Territory is home to an estimated 100,000 saltwater crocodiles, more than anywhere else on the planet. They are a protected species, with numbers surging since hunting bans in the 1970s. Salties have been linked to nearly 20 fatal human attacks in the past two decades, including the death of a 12-year-old girl in July 2024.
