The dream trip of an American model to the Australian Outback ended in a horrific tragedy when she was attacked and killed by a giant saltwater crocodile, despite explicit warnings about the danger.
A Fateful Decision at King's Cascade
On March 29, 1987, Ginger Meadows, a 24-year-old from Snowmass Village, Colorado, was enjoying a boat trip to the spectacular King's Cascade waterfall near Darwin in Australia's Northern Territory. She was travelling with her friend, Jane Burchett, aboard the luxury vessel Lady G, skippered by Bruce Fitzpatrick. The area was notoriously inhabited by crocodiles, and the pair were warned not to enter the water.
Inspired by the film 'Crocodile Dundee', Meadows had wanted to experience the real Australia. Ignoring the skipper's advice, she and Burchett decided to take a swim. Fitzpatrick soon spotted a four-metre saltwater crocodile moving towards the two women, who became trapped waist-deep against the waterfall wall.
The Horrific Attack Witnessed by a Friend
Jane Burchett later recounted the terrifying moments. "It swam right up to us and had its mouth open," she said. In a desperate attempt to scare it, she threw her shoe, hitting the crocodile on the head. Believing she could escape, Meadows let go of her friend's arm.
"She let go of my arm, jumped off the ledge, took two strokes and it grabbed her around the waist and pulled her right under the water," Burchett recalled. The crocodile then surfaced with Meadows. "I looked her right in the face, she had her arms in the air and she was looking right at me. Then it pulled her back under the water."
Gruesome Aftermath and a Last Insult
Ginger Meadows' body was recovered the next day, which would have been her 25th birthday. The horror continued even after her remains were placed in a body bag on a rescue boat. Chief Inspector Arnold Davies of the Broome police reported that as the boat travelled, a large crocodile leapt from the water and snapped at the bag, trying to tear it.
Her estranged husband, Dwayne McCaulley, then 27, flew to Australia to identify her. Skipper Bruce Fitzpatrick reiterated in a 2017 interview that he had clearly warned Meadows "to not so much as dangle a foot in the water."
This incident remains one of Australia's most high-profile crocodile attacks. Data from Charles Darwin University shows that between 1979 and 2022, the Northern Territory saw 76 crocodile attacks, with a 30% fatality rate. Meadows' death serves as a grim reminder of the deadly risks posed by Australia's iconic predators.
