Former radio host Roman Butchaski was killed by a crocodile while fishing in far North Queensland, a coroner has ruled almost two years after he vanished without a trace.Â
Butchaski, then 76, disappeared while fishing the crocodile-infested banks of remote Olive River, 600km north of Cairns, at the tip of Cape York on November 12 in 2023.Â
Rescue parties found his vehicle, one of his two fishing rods, and some personal possessions, but no trace of the experienced fisherman.
A coroner has now ruled the Ukrainian-born radio host was killed by a crocodile.
Butchaski was described as a ‘happy-go-lucky type of bloke and happiest when he was fishing’, by Coroner Christine Roney on July 30.
Roney told a Brisbane court Butchaski was very familiar with North Queensland fishing territory, but not the area around Olive River.
On November 9, he visited long-time friends at Bramwell Station and would travel to Olive Crossing each morning to fish.
But on November 12, the day before he was due to return to Sydney, Butchaski left Bramwell Station at 8am and was never seen again.Â
Radio host and angling expert Roman Butchaski (pictured) disappeared while fishing from the banks of a croc-infested river in Far North Queensland on November 12, 2023
An extensive search including the deployment of a Rescue Helicopter 700 (Torres Strait Rescue), searched for a week for a sign of Butchaski, but no trace was found.Â
‘The fact that no sign of (Butchaski) was located during the extensive and thorough search leads me to suspect (he) has entered the water and has been consumed by a crocodile,’ Coroner Roney said.
She noted the Department of Environment and Science had carried out surveys and observed two crocodiles in the area where Butchaski was supposed to be fishing.
‘One of these crocodiles was estimated to be 2.5 – 3metres in length and was sighted approximately 15metres from the missing person’s last known position,’ a report said.
‘While the second crocodile was estimated to be approximately 1.5metres in length.’
Coroner Roney confirmed that while the department could not find a crocodile ‘displaying signs of taking a human’, it was still highly probable given the fact that large crocodiles inhabit that section of water.
The coroner said that she wholly believed there were three scenarios which could cause Butchaski to enter the water.
Either he was dragged into the water after being attacked by a saltwater crocodile, he lost his balance while fishing and traversing snags, or he suffered a medical episode associated with his age, type 2 diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol, and the extreme temperatures experienced in the area at the time.
The remote Olive River runs for 70km at the very top of Australia’s northern mainland, starting in the Richardson Range before heading for the unspoiled coast
Butchaski (pictured right in the 2GB radio station) was described as a ‘happy-go-lucky type of bloke and happiest when he was fishing’
‘Once in the water I believe (Butchaski) has been taken and killed, and likely consumed, by a large saltwater crocodile inhabiting the upper reaches of the Olive River,’ she said.
‘It is my recommendation that consideration be given to the fact that (he) is now deceased, as a result of a saltwater crocodile attack.’
The remote Olive River runs for 70km at the very top of Australia’s northern mainland, starting in the Richardson Range before heading for the unspoiled coast.
The water twists through 43sq km of uninhabited crocodile-infested estuarine wetlands before crossing pristine white sands to meet the Coral Sea at Temple Bay.Â
In November 2023, 2GB radio host Ben Fordham said the thoughts and prayers of everyone at the radio station were with Butchaski and his family.
He added: ‘Obviously, we’re thinking of everyone who knew and Butch and we’re hoping that he is out there somewhere’.Â
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Mysterious fate of beloved 2GB radio host and fishing expert who vanished in croc-infested waters is revealed