They will kill today. They killed yesterday. And they will kill tomorrow.”
-Alison Anderson, Former Environment Minister, the Northern Territory, Australia, on the rise of crocodile attacks
2. Back Against The Wall
More than 35 million Americans went to see Crocodile Dundee when it came out in 1986, including Ginger Meadows, a red-haired model from Charlottesville, Virginia.
Ginger, 24, loved the movie so much it inspired her to take a trip to Australia.
After attending the 1987 America’s Cup held near Perth, she hitched a ride north on the Lady G, a 108-foot luxury yacht captained by Bruce Fitzpatrick.
Ginger, a charismatic free spirit who easily made new friends, was a welcome addition to the crew.
On Sunday, March 29, Captain Fitzpatrick, Ginger and three others took a morning speedboat trip to the remote King’s Cascades in the northwest part of the country.
The Cascades, a stunning terraced waterfall that overlooks a bay off the Prince Regent River, sits 130 feet above the cove and measures a football field across.
The pool below the rainbow-misted falls is surrounded by a semi-circle of steep, rocky hills filled with trees and plant life that make the area one of the most beautiful and rugged places in all of Australia.
At 11:20 a.m., Ginger and new Australian friend Jane Burchett, decided to cool off and swim to the left side of the Cascades, where they planned to climb the rocks and explore the top of the falls.
The pair knew there were crocodiles in the region, but they felt safe. Tourist brochures showed people swimming in the bay, and no warning signs were posted.
Hugh Edwards, in his book Crocodile Attack in Australia (Swan Publishing 1988), recounts what happened next.
Fitzpatrick could see Meadows and Burchett from the cliffs above. He could also see the large saltwater crocodile slowly moving towards them.
“Crocodile!” Fitzpatrick shouted. “Crocodile! Get out of the water! Get out of the water!”
But the girls had nowhere to go. They were trapped in waist-deep water on a ledge with their backs against a solid wall of rock.
The crocodile was right in front of them, about 15 feet away.
“Ginger was holding onto my arm,” Burchett said. “I screamed as loud as I could to scare the crocodile and took off my shoe and threw it. I think it hit the crocodile. It stopped and looked disconcerted, as though it had lost its bearings. Ginger looked at me and said ‘What do we do now?’”
Burchett was about to say, “I don’t know, but let’s stay here.” But before she could speak, Meadows had let go of her arm and decided to swim to a dry bank on the right side, about 25 yards away.
“She only got a few feet,” Burchett said. “I was thinking, Why, oh why did she do that? Then it happened.”
The crocodile surged toward Meadows and attacked. Grabbing her by the upper legs and hips, its jaws extended past her bikini clad body on both sides. The giant reptile dragged her beneath the water. Resurfacing for an instant, Meadows silently reached to the others for help, but there was nothing anyone could do.
“She looked at me as though to say ‘What’s happening?’” Burchett said.
Jane Burchett never saw her American friend or the crocodile again. The next day Ginger Meadows would’ve celebrated her 25th birthday.
Two days later, a search team found her armless body face-down in the water. It was being “stored” by the crocodile for a future meal.
***
American model Ginger Faye Meadows, 24, was eaten by a large saltwater crocodile on March 29, 1987 in Northwestern Australia. She was on a vacation that was inspired by the movie Crocodile Dundee.
A large Australian saltwater crocodile similar in size to the reptile that attacked American model Ginger Meadows at the King’s Cascades in northwestern Australia on March 29, 1987. The angle of the picture is similar to Meadows and Burchett’s view as the croc stared the pair down before attacking Meadows as she tried to swim to safety.
The plunging waterfalls of the King’s Cascades in Northwestern Australia the site where American model, Ginger Meadows, was killed by a large saltwater crocodile on March 29, 1987. Meadows and friend Jane Burchett were standing in waist deep water with their backs against the wall of rock on the left edge of the falls when confronted by the reptile. Meadows, a strong swimmer, was immediately attacked as she tried to swim to land about 25 yards away.
-End-
The exclusive five-part feature Five Killer Croc Attacks continues with Part Three: “An African Thank You,” the story of a Seattle doctor whose two-month goodwill trip to Africa turns into a permanent stay.
TheShadowReports 
What a horrible story. Those things should be shipped to outer space and never seen again
weird and ignorant thing to say. They have been around longer than us, and have every right to be here. Its humans that are the problem. respect all animals and stay out of their way.
People like you who think animals are more important than people are pieces of shit.
Someone like you deserves to be eaten by a crocodile you spiteful little man.
And ppl like u who like animals aren’t important. Are heartless pieces of shit. 😡.u just sounded like a prick writing that. Crocdiles are beautiful animals, and this girl was in the crocs terrortory. So as sad as it is that she Lost her life. They shouldn’t of been swimming in them
Waters.
Polio was around longer than us too. Should we have done nothing about that too?
I heard the group had been drinking and also smoking pot, before she was got?
That wouldnt matter.
Yep, telling them Nice Croc, Nice Crocodile won’t get them to change and not eat people given the chance.
Crazy man i hate crocs!
the bitch fed the other bitch to the croco
then they made up the cover up stroy with the other guy
I read your comment. You got some attention.
That is the cruelest thing I have ever read. Ginger’s husband was a long time family friend and he was never the same after losing the love of his life, especially given her violent end. Malcolm Duane McCauley himself died of cancer last March.
Hi Craig, I also knew Ginger and Duane in Aspen Colorado in the early 80s and then Ginger came out to Australia to travel with me to Perth for the Americas Cup. After this tragedy I was the one who met Duane at Sydney airport as he passed through on his way to WA to identify her body. I’ll never forget how crushed he was and how in love they both were. I’m sorry to hear he has passed away last year – very sad.
Debby:
Duane’s dad was my dad’s best friend; Duane was named after my dad. I never met Ginger because I was in the Marines at the time. I know he was immensely in live with her from everything his mom told me and what he wrote in letters. It took him several years after her death before he was functional again, but he was never the same.
Peace,
Craig
Lol why he didn’t go with Ginger, he let his wife travel by herself wtf. It’s his fault
Maturity level of a first grader. You spell like a first grader, too.
What a terrible story. I read about it years after it happened. I can’t believe the crude remarks posted here as to the circumstances that happened. Have some respect and compassion.
When I initially heard the story, it did occur to me that one woman, in a desperate attempt to live, sacrificed her companion. Especially since she threw the shoe at the croc; he may have been deciding just who to take, and when the shoe struck him, he made up his mind.
The companion did not speak about this for years, I read. That one person would do this, in order to live, is appalling indeed, but we have our instincts to survive and all is fair in love and war. No law would even cover that. Regarding the “guy,” i am not sure what that is referring to. But yes, I believe that if it came down to me and another person who was about to die, we’d be faced with the decision ourselves. What would you do? Be eaten alive and let your companion swim away? Seconds to decide.
You should read the story again. Ginger was not “sacrificed”. She took off swimming on her own, thinking she could make it. Crude comments.
At no point while reading the story did I feel as if Ginger’s friend was only trying to save herself. She and Ginger were both “up against a wall” and the friend tried to scare the crocodile away for both of their sake. Wendy needs to stop forming her own opinion based on her own imagination. Such a sad story–I attended high school with Ginger and I’ll never forget reading her story in the local newspaper. Kudos to her friend for trying to scare off the crocodile–when you’re in water and there’s no where to go, and you see a crocodile coming towards you,I don’t know if I could have even thought to throw a shoe.
Duane had always been kind of angry with women. He wasn’t the nicest man to deal with. I’m sorry Ginger passed. But the buzz was that they were divorcing, before she took this vacay and it was her time to herself to figure things out.
It’s very suspicious! Actually reminds me of the Australian series “return to Eden” made in the early 80’s!!! Anyone from Australia with half a brain would know this is unlikely to of happened! Foul play for sure! Did he get an insurance pay out on her death? Of course he never got over it! I’m sure even for a monster to watch another monster eat his wife alive must of eaten him up for years! Standing on a cliff wall in croc infested waters in that part of remote Australia is only going to end up deadly! Someone planned this..
You’re an idiot Belle.
Crocs are not just evil killers, They were after all here before us.
Honestly, the loss all these people have suffered could have been easily avoided.Those who swim in croc infested waters without knowledge I feel for the most. But there are people (As this story states) that swim knowing there are crocs lurking under the surface., If humanity took a step back to look at obvious reasons then I am sure there will not be so many animal deaths as there has been and sadly will be.
You believe everything the paper says, Craig? I just read about a recent Croc attack where the woman said the media totally lied about what really happened. Unless you were there, you can’t discredit that possibility. It just makes you seem like a know it all..
Pound sand asshole! We are close friends of the family.
Ginger was a great friend of mine. We grew up near each other in Charlottesville, Virginia. She loved to travel, and was very happy in Australia. I don’t know why she was referred to as a “model” in all these stories. Maybe she posed for a photographer at some point, but I don’t remember her mentioning it. She had beautiful wavy brown hair, not red, and unforgettable blue eyes. She was a fiercely loyal friend, generous to a fault, and stood strong in her convictions. All these years later, her death has never left those of us who loved her; I hope those who were unfortunate enough to witness the horrific tragedy have recovered enough to have found some peace. From that yacht (The Lady G), Ginger wrote her first letters from Australia to her family and friends. I received mine on her birthday, the day after her death.
This story made news across the world. I was living in Europe at the time; it resonated so much because she symbolized the positive, best side of life– snuffed out by a random and monstrous cruelty of circumstances. We relate to her death through our worst fears. She is a symbolic reminder for all of us to appreciate life and cherish every moment we are given, even some of the unpleasant ones. I am sorry for your loss.
Life continues after death & Ginger made sure you knew she was fine! She loved you very much & still does for you loving her still so much today! God bless you & all Gingers family & friends.
Ginger was my cousin. Her sisters, Charlotte and Joyce survive her, but her parents have both passed away. We were one month apart in age and had many fun times together. For many years after her death, I could not believe she was gone. I always thought that she would show up at my doorstep saying it was all a joke. To my knowledge, she was not a model. She had beautiful shiny long brown hair and piercing blue eyes like her father. I know she wasn’t happy with her husband and took the trip to Australia to think and to help teach the Aboriginese to read. She loved life. I miss her to this day. I knew her husband passed away because we both had the same doctor. I love you Ginger.
I get so sad and Angry reading a Article like this.But what can you do in a world of over seven billion people.The it becomes a problem of human encrocement,and our wild life suffers.I all ways thought of going to wild places to explore,but on the same token I would want to be Armed.
Please, please carry grenades if you must go into the water in Australia.
Crocs are attracted to splashing on the surface – like a dying fish does… If you are very smooth in your actions and swimming they have a strong tendency to leave you alone. If Ginger was splashing then the crock just worked on instinct…
With respect, I think you are mixing up crocs with sharks. Crocs are ambush hunters who will attack anything they feel they can handle. Crocs have attacked sleeping campers where there was no splashing or dying fish imitation. I have swum in a creek where a Freshie appeared and swam nearby; if it had been a Saltie, no matter how smoothly I was swimming, I don’t think I would be here now,
And yet the favorite place for the Croc to hunt is at the edge of the water where uts PREY is OUT of the water. Yeah, I know its true about the splashing, but I’m sure that Croc knew it wasn’t a fish.
What a load of crap!!
Saltwater crock’s are predatory, they will stalk lure +ambush their prey.
I’ve seen a 12foot salty go over top of a wild pig +1human 2specifically get 1particular dog it wanted(there were 3dogs there but for some reason it wanted that 1)
I grew up on a cattle station less than 500k’s from where this happened +the old police sergeant in charge of recovering her body was a family friend, he’s told us how this old croc didn’t want to give her up without a fight, it really affected him with horrible lifelong memories that no1 deserves.
Saltwater crocs are aggressive territorial predatory carnivores. The only way to avoid them in their waterways is to simply not go there. There was no signage warning people + they weren’t locals so they didn’t know any better.
I know it’s been a long time but rip. Ginger
+may your family find peace
Education is the key here. Crocs will do what crocs do. Just be aware.
This is a sad story indeed. I just wish ppl were more responsible in their actions because the animal will always be the animal.
I blame the Australian Tourism industry & govt. for lack of warning to tourists, warning of the imminent dangers of these prehistoric killing machines lurking beneath what appears to be idyllic holiday, paradise settings. # I, personally, never had the pleasure of meeting this beautiful girl myself, however, my then, fiancee’, had assisted her with casual work in his club at Scarborough beach, W.A. I returned to Melbourne and opened a letter Ginger Meadow’s had written to my fiancee’ (as I thought he was having an affair!). This most beautiful letter was written to thank him for his hospitality and assistance with employment whilst in Perth, W.A. This letter was forwarded to her family in the US. All so very tragic, my heart bleeds for her family and loved ones! R.I.P. Beautiful Girl!!
I’m sure your fiance gave her some extrs good hospitality. Just reading from this article, it seemed like Ginger was doing more than hitching a ride from Bruce. Regardless, her death was terrible and shame on Jane for not trying to save her.
You truly are an asshole.
A beautiful gesture! Again Ginger wanted to reassure you your fiancé was a good man. Her soul made sure subconsciously to do this before her time was up. Your fiancé must of made a nice impression & made her feel worthy enough to help her. I’m happy Ginger had good ppl like your fiancé help her enjoy her last days here on earth happy ones. God bless you for forwarding her letter to her family!
Tragic lost. my condolences
uh, why are these things a protected species?
Because ignorant humans keep on killing them. You can’t blame the croc for this. How about humans leave them the hell alone?
everyone always wants to blame someone else when there is nothing to blame but ourselves. It was a well known fact this is crocodile territory, they all knew it was. Why blame the Australian government or their Tourism Industry? Why blame Ginger or her friends? And most importantly, why blame a prehistoric creature that is one of the Earth’s most prominent survivors simply for existing as it always has? A risk was taken, we all take them, it’s a roll of the dice……I don’t diminish the amount of sorrow that was felt or the loss of one so loved, but to demonize governments or the others present and especially the animal itself, is fruitless…..blame is wasted here.
Blame the Australian government because they portrayed this area as safe, going so far as to publish brochures which showed people swimming at these falls. She didn’t know the danger because it was advertised as a tourist spot. They should be criminally culpable.
I live in South Africa – where nile crocodiles rule the fresh waterways and the oceanic waterways are ruled by great white sharks.
Relative to the local population, it’s virtually impossible for authorities, other than by eliminating one of the two apex predators (humans are apex predators), to control the situation. I find it very difficult to understand how the authorities or government would be able to identify every body of water – either a free flowing river or a lake or dam – as being populated by the fearsome reptiles, unless it is regulated,like the east coast of South Africa’s Indian ocean – Durban, which is netted. There’s just so many bodies of water to keep track of. As a result, I have always admired the beauty of Africa’s waterways from a ‘healthy’ distance. The instinct of survival or self preservation always won the day.
An effective strategy would be to warn all tourists, at the point of entering a country of the risks posed by it’s wildlife – in the case of Australia and South Africa – the oceans are known to be the happy hunting grounds of great white sharks and that the rivers are owned by crocs.
The point is that nobody – willingly – wants to be chomped on by a croc or gws. There is a very strong possibility that if you do enter any unregulated swimming spots – you’re on your own & there is a chance that nature will take it’s course. It’s not about the blame-game…it’s about awareness and a primal instinct of survival which should keep you safe.
In hindsight, the American woman, if properly warned by tourism authorities would most probably not have entered that tragic, unregulated body of water which led to her demise – even if the Australian local was insistant on it. The instinct of self preservation was subdued owing to 1) A lack of awareness, not of the presence of crocs, but of the gravity of reality that a crocodile WILL attack you with the intention to kill – as a source of food – within the blink of an eye and 2) sadly so, but not incriminating, a friend with too much of an adventurous spirit.
That’s the point you idiot. The Australian government portrayed the area as safe by publishing brochures of people swimming in the location and no warning signage. Can they know every location? No! But they should have known this one.
She hitched a ride on a yacht with people she didn’t know. It even said in the article that she knew Crocs were in the area. Reread the article sober this time.
I knew Ginger very well. We lived together in Aspen.Colorado in the early 80s and had our 21sts together there. We kept in touch and she came out to Australia and travelled with my husband and I across to Perth while the Americas Cup was on.
I remember we went to see the film Crocodile Dundee together in Australia and she was acutely aware of the dangers of crocodiles. She would have completely trusted the knowledge of the Australian group she was with at Kings Cascades that day so I am still at a loss why the girls were swimming at the bottom instead of rinsing in the fresh waterfall up on the ledges.
Duane came out to Australia to take her home but was unable to identify her and so returned with just her belongings. She was air-lifted home at a later date once identification was confirmed.
Both lovely people and sadly missed.
Debby –did you know my husband Richard Phillips, when you lievd out there?
Hi Beverley, do you mean in Aspen? I don’t remember the name but it was over 30 years ago 🙂
Thanks, Debby, for your information. Ironically enough, I do remember that movie coming out that year and talking with her about it. She loved Australia! She definitely had a gypsy soul. I’m glad she felt so happy and at peace in the weeks before her death. I don’t know if you kept in touch with Duane over the years, but he died of cancer last year. He was never the same after she died.
Well firstly a crocodile doesn’t eat a person alive. The “prey” must be immbilised first and in the case of a relatively large terrestrial animal like a person that means a combination of drowning and throttle injury, the precise intent of the so-called “death-roll”. The photos of people swimming are at places where there are no “salties” and there are warning signs elsewhere. In very remote areas common sense should always prevail.
Well everytime I read those stories I feel sorry for the people who died in those circumstances. But I agree with that it’s actually not the guides fault, but that you have to take responsibility for your own.
I’m a 22 year old, german backpacker and I’ve also been to Australia and Africa, doing trips like that. When I’ve been to St. Lousia (South Africa), I decided to go on a kayak tour on a crocodile and hippos invested river nearby to get a closer view to Africas beautiful wildlife. We were a tiny group of 5 people, including myself and a tour guy.
He was a really weird guy. This was the first intention I had. When we were just sitting IN the kayaks, he gave a paper to each of us, kind of a contract telling: “I know about the danger / I know I can lose my life on this tour / In case of, a family member is informed.”
I remember the first thought I had; You cheeky little tour guide 🙂 Now – that we’re all already in the kayaks – this information makes a lot of sense. (I mean the signing part, saying you’ve informed someone, for example your parents). I remember even if I knew about the dangerous circumstances, when I had to sign it black on white it kind of shook me and made it more real.
In that second I totally understood what I was about to do. I took responsibilty for my own, signed and did the tour…
It was an indescribable 4 hours experience. But I have to say that during the tour I didn’t feel comfortable at all from time to time. After one hour paddling (at that point I was really sure our guide drank alc before), our tour guide told us how he haven’t guided that many tours yet and how a couple on their honeymoon and a 8 year old boy from UK got killed on their tours… Also I didn’t expect to be “so lucky” to get so close to a huge sand bank where lied dozens of the biggest crocs I’ve ever seen. Just massive crocs and hippos chilling a bit off of them. The water was pushing our group right into the sand bank, and when those huge animals started going into the water and under water… I thought ok, this is it.
I was terribly scared in that moment and the last thing I thought of was my mum and that I didn’t gave her any call in a long time and she has no idea where I an. And last but not least – I am so stupid, because I absolutely decided this on my own.
Now that I can tell my story, I’m happy that I do have this memory. (I never felt so alive or after like in that moment again) But I know now, that you always -do- have the choice to live. For example by knowing not to go in crocodile invested waters. 😉 It’s a 100% chance to survive.
So whatever you do, just make sure it’s worth it to die for.
This is so tragic but anytime I see people doing dumb things in nature, I want to scream. The place was called Crocodile Creek! What would you expect after that? Clearly she panicked and jumped in the water mistakenly thinking (like they do in the movies) she could outswim a croc. I also saw the Treadwell Documentary and the man thought of bears being friendly stray dogs. I wish the girlfriend how followed her first instinct and left when she no longer felt safe. She’d be alive now.
Were you high when you wrote your last sentence? It makes no sense. I wish the girlfriend how followed……..wtf?
she means Timothy Treadwell’s girlfriend, the one eaten by bears.
They went over to the left side planning to CLIMB the rocks, so why the hell couldn’t they climb? I’m guessing they hadn’t reached where they wanted to go yet. Then Jane says the Croc was disoriented from being hit by her shoe. Yeah, right. It was probably deciding which one to kill, if not grab both at the same time……I love how the article says she hitched a ride on a 108 foot yacht. The only way your doing that is if your a hot woman.
Then the article says this: Ginger, a charismatic free spirit who easily made new friends, was a welcome addition to the crew. Duh! She’s hot! And also probably because of horny old Bruce was probably trying to get with her or maybe he already did.Lastly, IMO even though Ginger was the one that got killed, I bet she saved stupid Jane’s life too(let’s just stay here).
You’re an asshole.
You contribute precisely nothing good to the human race. You are a waste of food, air and water. Your death can only improve the world.
This weekend a 62 year old man was pulled from his fishing boat by a 4.7 meter crocodile and killed in the Australian Northern Territory. They hunted down two crocs and found his remains inside one of them. All this witnessed by his wife, daughter and son-in-law. You’re not even safe in a boat it seems – we must respect how dangerous these creatures are in their environment.
That man was braindead. That’s why he is Jo longer with us.
Survival of the fittest!
I knew Duane and Ginger as close friends and was a groomsman in their May 1984 wedding. They separated in 1986 while living in Aspen and Duane moved to Richmond, VA, where he bunked at my house during that summer. He later moved back to Colorado after Ginger traveled to Australia. She bitterly blamed me for not doing a better job of babysitting Duane while he lived in my house, and her words sting to this day, but the guy was three years older than me and was determined to unleash his wild streak that summer. Duane always was a big hit with the ladies, though he sometimes wielded that power with a reckless abandon fueled by drugs and alcohol.
News of Ginger’s horrifying death hit all of us hard. We were kids, practically, with no concept of mortality. I drove Duane to Ginger’s funeral in Charlottesville, VA, and stayed with him throughout that day. We lost touch about two years later, but as his friends have pointed out — he was never the same after losing Ginger. Two months after her death I lost another close friend to suicide. 1987 was a bad year. I learned after the fact that Duane had died in March 2012 of complications related to cancer. I suspect he actually died years earlier, of a broken heart.
If anything came from these unspeakably tragic events, for me personally it was a wake-up call to embrace the fragility of life and to live each day with gratitude. Sooner or later all of us must face the consequences of our decisions. Duane did. So did Ginger. And Chris, well, his suicide remains a mystery to me to this day.
RIP Ginger, Duane (and Chris).
Steve: Duane was named after my dad. His dad and mine were very close friends. I lost track of Duane during my later years in the Marines. Thanks for filling in some blanks. You can find me on LinkedIn if you wish to correspond further on Duane. My deepest sympathies on your losses.
Craig McQuate
You have to love people like there is no tomorrow, because if you stop to think actually there is not. The Tomorrow is just a expectation, No matter what, when we face these tragic moments we realize how fragile we are .I’m Sorry for your losses
Hi Steve — It was great to see your comment here. Ginger and Duane’s wedding was at my parents’ house in Charlottesville, and it was wonderful day. I’m sorry to read that you remember her being angry with you. She was probably venting in the moment, and would never have wanted you to carry that burden. She could be emotional, but she had a big heart. I’m sorry for all your losses. It sounds like you were a good friend to Duane, and a comfort to him during a devastating time in his life. Wishing you all the best — Laura
What touching words Steve…
I am a high school friend of Ginger’s and was at her wedding to Duane in May of 1984. Ginger was not my “best” friend in school but she was a very good friend and I can honestly say she was probably the sweetest, kindest and one of the most thoughtful. That is why I find myself searching these blogs occasionally. She pops into my mind and then I go looking for some new shred of information (maybe something that I didn’t know before or maybe a picture that someone might post of my beautiful friend)….I miss her so much. I am sure that she would not have wanted you to feel guilty for not looking out for Duane better…that was certainly not her style. I think you can let that guilt trip go now. Thank you for sharing. Rest in peace my beautiful Ginger and RIP Duane ❤
I read about this sad story years ago in a paper on crocodile attacks I did in high school. It amazes me what risk people will take with their lives. I researched the victim years ago. She was not a model. Her family and friends never heard of her ever modeling. Why this model thing stuck can only be contributed to sensationalism. Not that she wasn’t pretty enough to be a model. Also her name is complicated. I don’t think Meadows is her madden name. I’m not 100 percent sure but I don’ t think so. I read where Ginger’s parents have both passed away and I think their last name was different. But it’s been a long time so I’m not sure. To those who knew her and still are alive my condolences. Young people do crazy things and I’m sure everyone on that yacht had an attitude of it can’t happen to me. God speed to her sisters and surviving family.
very very sad
and this guy posting rude comments needs slapped about.
wow, eatn by a croc! how freaking awesome is that? i always had a fear/fascination with getting eaten alive by a shark or even a croc,
i know wierd huh?
There are frequent croc attacks in the north of Australia. Sometimes kids, sometimes dogs or cattle, other times drunks hoping to cool off on a hot night.
Each man is his own fool or saviour.
Ah hum, ” being “stored” by the crocodile for a future meal.” is a fallacy as Crocs prefer fresh meat They may use a previous kill to attract scavengers, including other crocs, (they are cannibalistic after all) , A large 5 metre Crocs stomach is about the size of a soccer ball and they can go up to a couple of years without eating.
A point of interesting note ..After this attack made the international news, the various Australian State and Territory Tourism Agencies were inundated with calls , the majority from the USA . 100’s asked if they could witness an attack on a person and one man offered $50k to have one arranged for his personal pleasure..
It’s not about animals being more important than humans, that’s not the point, the point is humans being stupidly ignorant and not respecting the natural habitat of the animals, they knew that there were crocodiles in those waters, but they still continued playing in the water what did they expect.
I met Ginger before she joined the Lady G. She would come aboard the Yacht Cambria and hang with us. She was a very kind, adventurous spirit enjoying life fully. I would imagine that is how she would like to be remembered.
We are creations of the nature, too; it is our right to exterminate the animals that are of threat to us. Are we not the strongest around here? When humans fight their wars, even the wildest, the scariest of animals hide in woods. Why would we let some retarded reptile to scare us so much? Greenies are indeed nothing but mentally impaired sorry overgrown children. Don’t you croc-loving morons realise at all, that a crocodile would fancy you, or a member of your family, for a dinner any time?
Most of the comments here are a beautiful tribute to Ginger and her free spirit. It’s such a pity to see the occasional hostile remark.
I stumbled across this post trying to find the book and documentary Crocodile Attack. The Ginger Meadows story is close to my family as my grandfather – Vic Cox was one of the men in the search party who found her body. Grandad passed away last year. Reading the comments from people who were related to and knew Ginger saddens me so deeply. I was only very young when this happened but its a story that runs deep in my family and reading the comments from her family makes it so real, and not just a story anymore. My heart goes out to all that knew her. I know finding her body haunted my Grandad and her story will never be forgotten by myself or my family here in Australia xxx
i bet its not the first time that hottie was eaten. surely her last though.
Never been attacked by a crock. i can imagine what its like as i did get bit by a chamelion once. It hung on my pinkey.I think it tried to stash my body so he could feast later. well maybe not just climbed in my shirt pocket. If it would have been say 1000 times bigger now that would have been devastating. Just sayin , What if. Stay away from reptiles and preying mantises. now their pretty sketchy also. Be good.
Come up to Massachusetts, Jimmy, so I can kick your dumb ass.
I saw a croc at the zoo one time. It was glorious. I also own three pairs of crocs made from croc.
What a story, might be interesting to see it happen
you’re a dumbass too Sam
[…] in the 1980’s an American lass named Ginger Meadows was killed by a saltwater crocodile right at Kings Cascades falls. Today there are all sorts of […]
Isn’t there a place in Australia named Darwin? I think of that name every time I hear about someone ignoring regulations and deciding to swim in crocodile infested waters. It’s all Darwin.
So, JF Taylor – by providing an ‘artificial’ haven for crocodiles, by making them a protected species, we are in fact defying the logic of Darwin’s theory. The truth is – that croc food sources (and sharks for that matter) have been significantly depleted by human fishing. They therefore seek food outside their usual diet. This whole situation might be man made, but it is irreversible. If we are to maintain the balance intended by nature’s wonderful plan – crocs – and sharks, should be culled. Since crocs became a protected species their numbers in the wild (in Australia) have increased from an estimated 3000 to over 200000; and that’s a lot of mouths to feed!!
For those off you saying kill them all the easiest way not too get attacked by a croc is too not swim in crocodile infested waters. They highly evolved apex predators. Pretty simple really
Jeez, if you suspect it may be dangerous then don’t do it. If you decide to take the risk the responsibility of the consequences is yours. I would be cautious around a bathtub if I were visiting Australia. In every body of water in and around that continent there is probably lurking something that will eat you.
I personally like crocodiles as long as I study them from a very safe distance or online.
I Remember the attack on Ginger Meadows, as I grew up in Wyndham East Kimberley Wester Australia. My Father was with the Team who recovered her body, as he was with the Wyndham Police force at the time. A beautiful young Life Taken way too soon. My Condolences to her Family & Friends.
why do people blame anyone or anything. it was nobodys fault honestly except maybe Ginger. i have never gone out of the Us, but if i di i know aussie has crocs, i know this just like everyone knows this. we all should know there is NO safe water, except a swimming pool. you cant blame the guide, how the heck would he know>? if anyone told me, “oh the water is safe.” i would say well enjoy yourself, i will be onshore. come on now, it is most certainly not the visitors bureau, the guide, the friend, or the crocs fault. he was just being a croc, and she was the one he chose. end of story!
“The pair knew there were crocodiles in the region, but they felt safe.”
I do that too, as a woman I want to socialize with prisoners in a maximum security prison, I feel its safe to interview those serial rapists privately.
I also camp on beaches with Komodo dragons, African savannas with hyenas, North American deep backwoods with Grizzly bears and all because I feel safe.
Maybe she should’ve watched “Jurassic Park” instead. What? She didn’t look into how dangerous these animals are and what to do if she found herself in that situation, how they hunt their prey and how they react to humans.
I have read all the comments through the years on this site regarding Ginger. (And yes, her last name was Meadows when we were in high school) I have started to respond many times before, but never did. However I could not pass up the opportunity to post a reply regarding your remark. Like so many other comments, yours is filled with sarcasm and stupidity. You sound like you’re old and wise–surely you’re not still in your youth as Ginger was. I’m assuming that in your early 20’s, you never did anything that was dumb and foolish. Perhaps you should visit the rapists in the correctional center. My guess is–you’d probably be safe.
In response to your comment about Ginger “should have watched Jurassic Park”….IF she had still been alive–6 years LATER–when it came out, perhaps she would have watched it. Gotta love dumb people who try to sound so smart.
Born & lived just about all my life in Queensland (am nearly 60). The first time I ever heard of this tragedy was in Bill Bryson’s travel book on Australia, “Down Under”. Typically, I was horrified at the terrible end that beautiful young girl suffered. It’s a shame some here have made ill-considered remarks about this. No need for rudeness or cruelty. That’s not the Australian way. We can be blunt, but not usually deliberately unkind. If Ginger’s family and/or friends read this, I am so sorry for your loss, albeit many years ago now. From what I’ve read since, it seems Ginger and her friend were warned not to go in the water because of the risk of attack. No point in blaming anyone now. Bad, sad decision on the girls’ part. You wouldn’t normally expect signage in such a remote place. Maybe the crew didn’t impress upon the girls, just how high the risk is, and maybe someone could’ve explained the people in the brochure weren’t swimming at that location. We have an old warning in this country, it’s almost a bit of a joke. It’s that if there is mortal danger from (any) animal, you only need to be able to run faster than your companion, to save your own life. But in reality it doesn’t always work that way. Ginger made a split second decision, and her breaking away, gave the croc it’s easiest chance. Otherwise it would just have charged them and taken the first one it could get hold of. A saltwater or estuarine crocodile will come on to land after prey and will drag campers out of tents. Contrary to what someone further up here said, they will wedge bodies in mangrove roots to return to, later. But the animal was doing what comes naturally in its own territory. The big salties regularly attack small boats. They are protected because at one stage, due to hunting, their numbers were nearly depleted. But northern Australia now has a problem with them, because the protection has led to an explosion in numbers. From one extreme to the other. And the saltwater crocodile is spreading down the eastern coastline of Australia much more quickly than anyone previously thought possible. The final thing I would say is this. To anyone, Australian or overseas visitor, please pay attention, this is the truth. Apart from patrolled far northern beaches on the east coast – where there will be signs etc. – you are risking your life if you get into ANY natural body of water in north Queensland, the Northern Territory and Western Australia. No matter how clear the water, no matter how beautiful, no matter how shallow. What people don’t realise, is that the crocs can move with split second timing. They can have you, in the blink of an eye. Do not do it. Do not get in any water, anywhere, north of Bundaberg Queensland, unless it’s a patrolled beach or a swimming pool. And I am deadly serious. Look before you get in that swimming pool. Your life is worth it. RIP Ginger. Best wishes all.
Rosie wanted to thank you for these comments; as I note below I found this trail in the first place because I was researching the Croc situation in Australia because my wife – who has not yet been to Oz – wants to visit and loves the water. As far south as Bundaberg now? Bloody hell, that’s practically down to the Gold Coast! Based on your comments and the other research I am going to stick to NSW and Vic for aquatic pursuits.
I just happened across this trail when I had heard about the recent resurgence of crocodile attacks from a former colleague in Oz and was reading up on it. I was a Third Year undergraduate at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville when this happened – I remember seeing it on Channel 29 News on TV and reading about it in the Daily Progress newspaper over a number of days. It was a shocking and tremendously sad event for the local community. The vitriolic nature of so many of the comments over the years is almost beyond belief and is indicative of a profound level of ignorance that I cannot recall seeing in any social media elsewhere. As the 30th anniversary of this tragedy approaches in a few weeks may Ms. Meadows rest in peace and may the many detractors that have visited this post show the dignity to remain silent.
Well said David.
Thanks Craig, and thanks for your service. I am former Navy and have tremendous respect for my USMC colleagues past & Present. (Semper fi!)
Semper Fi!
Hi David Pickeral,
Thank you for your response. My mention of Bundaberg was just a choice of location in passing, as there have been sightings in many more southern places now. There have certainly been croc sightings south of Bundaberg, and as recently as the last couple of months, two sightings in the outer western area of Brisbane (Queensland’s capital), closer to a large inland town called Ipswich, about 50km outside Brisbane. One was near a popular watering place for visitors
I heard the man who saw it being interviewed on radio. Others had called in disagree with what he said, and he was adamant that ‘logs’ don’t have legs and swim. I believe him. Conditions have been such over the last few years, that these animals have been migrating south at an unprecedented rate. It IS only a matter of time before our Sunshine Coast and Gold Coast beaches will be unusable because of crocodiles moving south.
We are currently seeing Queensland beaches closed due to the encroachment of the incredibly dangerous Irikanji jellyfish, once only found in far northern Queensland.
Do not believe the tourist brochures: information from locals is by far more trustworthy. If only poor Ginger Meadows had done so, she’d still be alive.
I believe your decision to keep your holiday activities to the south of Australia, is a very wise one. When you come here, I hope you have a wonderful time. This is a great country, as long as you pay close attention to information about the various risks, and are prepared. I actually think it’s not a bad idea for prospective visitors to Australia, to read Bill Bryson’s book, ‘Down Under’.
There are no problem crocodiles as far south as being said here, stop trying to make a name for yourself. i’m not saying there isn’t any but the likelihood of it being aggressive to humans is low as it would have abundant food and the waterways to themselves. It’s the problem crocs in overinhabited areas that will get you in trouble.I live in Central Queensland, north of Bundaberg and there has never been a croc attack recorded.
What I find interesting is that, people on here are blaming the crocodile, as if it reasons or some how should know that humans are not on the food list. These animals have survived the extinction of the dinosaurs, and have become efficient predator in their environment. Human beings can reason, and have the ability to understand that when you enter a large predators environment, you are putting yourself at risk, commonsense must prevail, but in the end when you make a decision to enter the ocean with sharks, forests with bears, or water ways with crocodiles you do it at your own risk. I feel bad for this lady and her family, but their judgement to go swimming when they new crocodiles are in the water makes absolutely no sense to me.
Granted it is their environment, but with brochures that show this location as an inviting swimming hole, I am fairly sure they didn’t know of the crocodiles. You can’t spell.
Interesting to see your further comments. In the last couple of weeks, Queensland has had huge floods. Lots of animals, including crocodiles (both fresh and saltwater) along with snakes etc., are washed down river systems when the floods come (our floods are huge in that they spread across a very wide range of land, and through towns and cities).
Now, please note this: during this current flood, two crocs were seen at Jimboomba, a small town SOUTH of Brisbane, the capital city. It’s not known whether they were fresh, or salties. But they were there.
The crocodile is spreading down the Queensland coast, as I said, at an unprecedented rate. All visitors to this country should take every precaution for their safety. That’s all I can say. Not that long ago, that a swimmer in a public swimming pool had to go and tell the proprietor, that he’d just passed two small crocs swimming the other way, whilst doing laps at the pool.
Take care, all.
I was a friend also from Aspen (Snowmass). There were a lot of things that did not add up here for me…I believe myself that Ginger was told it was safe if these were the events that actually happened?
Sorry to hear about Duane who was a nice guy when I knew him, but this greatly impacted the rest of his life obviously, as it would with anyone.
[…] for 45 minutes and are a good runway replacement if you’ve run out of flares and we heard the sad saga of Ginger Meadows, a 24 year old, American model who was taken by a croc at Kings Cascades in 1987. After the […]
Craig,
What strikes me the most reading the comments surrounding Ginger’s death is your still fierce loyalty to your friend Duane and Ginger. This sad tragedy did have some good come from it, look at the type of man you became.Who good sir, would not want to have you as a friend.I hope you have had a good life.
Jennifer
USA NH
oooooo 69 the 5 year old
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This is a cover up crime. They probably raped Ginger, or something had happened through the sail and fed her in the crocs