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
5. An Occurrence at Sandy Creek
At 10 p.m. on October 12, 2002, Isabel and Valarie von Jordan left the Sari Club in Bali one hour before a bomb destroyed the bar and killed 202 people and injured 209 in a neighborhood terrorist attack.
The sisters, students from Heidelberg, Germany, wanted to forget the horror of the tragedy so they decided to spend the rest of their vacation somewhere safer – the Australian Outback.
At 7 a.m. on Sunday, October 20, the pair embarked on a four-day tour of Kakadu National Park, a vast timeless wilderness known for its stunning beauty and diverse wildlife.
Isabel, 23, and Valarie, 21, were part of a group of nine tourists led by Glenn Robless, a 46-year-old guide who worked for Gondwana Adventure Tours.
On Tuesday night, the campers were sitting around telling stories and sharing some laughs. Around 10:30 p.m., they decided to freshen up and go for a swim. Robless said he knew just the place about a half-mile away.
When the group arrived at Sandy Creek beach, they thought it was a perfect spot. The sand was soft and cool. The 10-foot high banks that framed the cove were home to a mini-forest of trees and tropical plants. And the full moon’s reflection gleamed over the inviting, tranquil water.
But a few of the tourists were concerned – several crocodile warning signs were posted.
Robless quickly assured everyone the waters were safe and that only harmless freshwater crocs might be present, not the fearsome man-eating salties.
He also added Sandy Creek was a famous place where Aboriginal people had been swimming for years. In addition, Robless checked the waters by shining a torch around the immediate area, looking for an “eye shine” – a reflection of red croc eyes above the surface. He saw none.
Satisfied, several of the campers entered the water around 11 p.m., including Isabel and Valarie.
James Rothwell, 24, a British tourist in the group remembers the horror that followed.
“We were about 10 yards out from the shore, all within sight and arm’s length of each other,” Rothwell said later in an official statement. “I felt a bang on my leg and seconds later heard a girl scream. And the girl went under the water.
“We got to the shore and shone torches on the water,” Rothwell continued. “We saw with the torches two red eyes going away from where the girl had just gone under. And we saw the outline of a crocodile swimming along the surface of the water.”
By 6:30 a.m., four park rangers found Isabel von Jordan’s mutilated body and captured the 15-foot, 1,100-pound saltwater crocodile that killed her. The sight of Isabel’s limp body in the reptile’s jaws still haunts them.
“It was sitting in the water like a dog with a bone,” said Kakadu National Park Ranger Garry Lindner during an interview with the London Independent. “Time stood still for me. I watched it swim along with the girl in its mouth. It wouldn’t let go.”
Tour guide Robless received a three-year suspended sentence after pleading guilty to making a dangerous omission that caused Isabel von Jordan’s death.
The rangers said they saw eight large saltwater crocs in Sandy Creek while they were searching for Isabel’s body.
***
German college students Valarie von Jordan, 21, (left) and sister Isabel von Jordan, 23, arrive at Darwin Airport in Australia Sunday, October 20, 2002. Two days later Isabel was attacked and killed by a 15-foot saltwater crocodile while swimming in Kakadu National Park's Sandy Creek. (Photo - Newspix)
The dead 15-foot 1,100 pound salt-water crocodile on the banks of Sandy Creek. The croc attacked and killed German tourist Isabel von Jordan, while she was swimming. The area directly behind the croc was where Isabel was taken. (Newspix)
National Park Rangers Greg Ryan, Garry Lindner, Andrew Wellings and Buck Salau with the dead 15-foot 1,100 pound saltwater crocodile on the banks of Sandy Creek located near Darwin in northern Australia. The croc seized German tourist Isabel von Jordan, 23, while she was enjoying a moonlit swim. (Photo - Newspix)
-End-
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You could swim with a shark but never with a croc. Moreover a Salty.
The local tribesman of Borneo once shared with me a tip:
Once your nostril hit with a foul stench from the river bank, clear away from the water at least a few feet away.
The croc’s nearby.
I am glad to hear that the guide got in trouble. Sorry, but I would never trust anyone who said what he said. How is there any way to tell that there aren’t crocs lurking down under the surface? Or that they won’t attack? If they live in the water then good chances you’ll run into one. I wouldn’t even sit near the shoreline but that is me.
I saw a documentary about this incident. It was over 100F and the tourists wanted to cool down… Myself, I would rather cook alive than take the risk they did… the guide should have not let them go into the water but his 3 year sentence was appropriate.. he has to live with a lot of thought for the rest of his life.
Even I saw this documentary on National Geographic channel some years back. How can you swim in that water even after reading the warning signs? And these things are highly active at night. Its really sad she got killed but why did they kill the croc? Croc did what he was supposed to do, they are designed to kill. Its humans fault to enter thier territory.
They should dangled the tour guide by his feet first and let his face stir the water before they entered the lake since he said it was safe….
What an exciting find! I can’t imangie how excited they were when they came across THAT while walking through the woods mine would have been off the wall. So glad you had your camera!
For college age young aged adults to ignore written warnings about crocodiles being in the area waters is pure foolishness. The guide should never be allowed to take any other tourists into these beautiful but as we’ve seen very deadly portions of the Australian landscape. As to why the crock needed to be killed that is standard procedure with any animal once its tasted human blood to protect and ensure that it wont do so again. Sad story for both the young lady and her family and friends as well as the crock only doing what it has always done whenever something invades its territory…
I am also glad that the guide got punished. I mean, why would they go in anyway if there were warning signs and crocs in the area? Me, personally would not go any were with crocs that eat human.
I know this sounds mean but it’s too bad that the girl was killed and not the tour guide. I mean, there were warning signs, and shining your torch on the surface of the water isn’t going to tell you anything. That tour guides going to live remembering this for the rest of his life
The victims of the attacks are to blame….not the guide, not the crocs. If you are dumb enough to go into the water where crocs live near its your fault if you get eaten alive. I take responsibility for my own safety and had this girl done the same she would be here today. She died a bloody fool.
you’re a fuckin idiot. guides are employed for their knowledge and experience of places and animals. the girl and other tourists put their faith in their guide. too bad the guide was also a fuckin idiot.
YOU PUT YOUR FAITH IN YOUR GUIDE BUT YOU ALSO HAVE TO TAKE RESPONSABILITY FOR YOUR OWN SAFE AS BRANDON SAID , I WOULD NEVER GET INTO A LAKE FULL OF CROCS EVEN IF THE GUIDE SAIDS THAT ITS OK !!
Just found this thread as doing some research into the incident. Brandon, you truly are a moron. I’d suggest you have a look into the incident to see what the group were really told by the guide. Of course they had no idea that there were crocs in that area… If they had, they would never have got in. To say that she is a ‘bloody fool’ says everything to me about you. She did take responsibility for her actions… The group employed a guide from a reputable company to ensure their safety and asked the guide time and time again whether or not the areas were safe on a daily basis. Go back to x-box.
Anywhere in tropical and subtropical Australia, there are saltwater or “estuarine” crocodiles. They may not have been in a place in the past, but now populations are rebounding from the days when they were hunted almost to extinction in parts of their range. Never, never swim in any river in northern Australia, no matter who tells you that it is ok. They are fascinating creatures, but we are on their menu. Admire them from a distance.
I’m pleased we havent got these monsters in England-they scare me to death!
All of the stories are very sad. One can only hope people learn from these stories to respect nature and the creatures which naturally hunt their prey, keeping a safe distance where they live. For another sad story, put the name, Hendrick Coatzee into your search engine. He bravely kayaked African rivers for many years, only to be taken on his last trip before settling down. It’s a story as sad as any of these.
Stupid guide crocs can stay submerged for hours it should be obvious there gonna be there somewhere from the sounds of things they could of been hunted anyway
I’m Sorry but the guide .. What was he thinking?? And now not only a girl died the croc is dead as well.
That is the reason why people are hating crocs, I’m sorry but the salty did what his nature told him to do and the guide is the reason why two creatures are dead now.
That’s just very very sad.