Influenced by the movie ‘Crocodile Dundee’, an American model named Ginger Meadows was inspired to embark on a journey to Australia’s Outback to experience it firsthand. Unfortunately, her expedition took a tragic turn.
Hailing from Snowmass Village in Colorado, a renowned ski destination vastly different from the arid terrains of Darwin in the Northern Territory, the 24-year-old set off on March 29, 1987, with her friend Jane Burchett to visit King’s Cascade aboard a luxurious vessel named Lady G. Following their Australian adventure, they planned to continue their travels to Papua New Guinea. The boat, under the command of skipper Bruce Fitzpatrick and a small crew, arrived at the stunning waterfall known for its resident crocodiles.
Despite warnings about the dangerous waters due to the presence of these formidable creatures, Ginger and Jane defied caution and decided to take a quick swim. Soon, the captain spotted a four-meter saltwater crocodile approaching the unsuspecting women. Caught against the waterfall, they found themselves in a perilous situation. Jane recounted the terrifying encounter with the crocodile.
“The crocodile swam towards us with its mouth open. I threw my shoe at it, striking its head and causing it to close its mouth. With the crocodile blocking our escape, Ginger perhaps thought she could swim to safety along the shoreline,” Jane narrated. However, Ginger was overpowered by the swift predator and tragedy struck swiftly.
Jane continued, “She released my arm, leaped into the water, took a couple of strokes, and was seized around the waist by the crocodile, pulling her beneath the water’s surface. The crocodile resurfaced with her in its grip, and as I watched in horror, she raised her arms towards me before being pulled back under.”
Her lifeless body was discovered the next day, coinciding with what would have been her 25th birthday. Chief Inspector Arnold Davies from the local police station in Port of Broome described the retrieval of her remains, which were placed in a body bag aboard a 23-foot rescue boat.
“We traveled approximately 15 kilometers up the river, and a large crocodile emerged from the water, leaping about four feet and attempting to tear the body bag,” he stated. The crew on the boat feared an additional attack by the crocodile, but fortunately, no further incidents occurred.
Ginger Meadows’ estranged husband, Dwayne McCaulley, aged 27 at the time, flew to identify her body. In a 2017 interview with the Daily Mail, Bruce disclosed that he had cautioned Ginger against entering the waters. He emphasized their awareness of the crocodile presence in the area and the strict advice given to Ginger to avoid any contact with the water. Ginger’s demise stands as one of the most notable crocodile attacks in Australian history. Data released in 2024 by Charles Darwin University indicated 76 crocodile attacks in the Northern Territory between 1979 and 2022, with 30% proving fatal.
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