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 Eaten Alive: 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.
What a horrible story. Those things should be shipped to outer space and never seen again
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.
Maturity level of a first grader. You spell like a first grader, too.
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.
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.
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.
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,
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.