In a tragic conclusion to a two-year mystery, a coroner has ruled that former 2GB radio host and fishing enthusiast Roman Butchaski was killed by a crocodile while fishing in the remote waters of far North Queensland. The ruling comes after Butchaski vanished on November 12, 2023, while fishing along the crocodile-infested banks of the Olive River, located 600 kilometers north of Cairns at the tip of Cape York.
Butchaski, who was 76 at the time of his disappearance, was an experienced fisherman known for his love of the sport. Despite an extensive search effort, which included the deployment of a Rescue Helicopter 700, no trace of Butchaski was found beyond his vehicle, one fishing rod, and some personal items. Coroner Christine Roney delivered the ruling on July 30, describing Butchaski as a ‘happy-go-lucky type of bloke and happiest when he was fishing’.
The Investigation and Findings
Coroner Roney explained to a Brisbane court that while Butchaski was familiar with North Queensland’s fishing territories, he was not acquainted with the Olive River area. On November 9, 2023, Butchaski visited friends at Bramwell Station and traveled daily to Olive Crossing to fish. However, on November 12, the day before he was due to return to Sydney, he left Bramwell Station at 8 a.m. and was never seen again.
The search operation, which lasted a week, failed to find any sign of Butchaski.
“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 stated.
Environmental Evidence and Expert Opinions
Surveys conducted by the Department of Environment and Science observed two crocodiles in the vicinity of Butchaski’s last known location. One crocodile was estimated to be between 2.5 and 3 meters in length and was sighted approximately 15 meters from where Butchaski was last seen. The second crocodile was estimated at about 1.5 meters in length. Despite not finding a crocodile displaying signs of having taken a human, the presence of large crocodiles in the area made such an incident highly probable.
Coroner Roney proposed three scenarios that could have led to Butchaski entering the water: an attack by a saltwater crocodile, losing balance while navigating snags, or experiencing a medical episode related to his age and health conditions, including type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and high cholesterol, compounded by the extreme temperatures of the region.
“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,”
Roney concluded.
The Legacy of Roman Butchaski
The Olive River, a remote and dangerous waterway, runs for 70 kilometers from the Richardson Range to the Coral Sea at Temple Bay, traversing uninhabited, crocodile-infested wetlands. This treacherous environment underscores the risks faced by those who venture into such isolated areas.
In November 2023, 2GB radio host Ben Fordham expressed the station’s condolences, stating,
“The thoughts and prayers of everyone at the radio station are with Butchaski and his family. Obviously, we’re thinking of everyone who knew and loved Butch and we’re hoping that he is out there somewhere.”
Butchaski’s disappearance and the subsequent findings serve as a somber reminder of the dangers posed by Australia’s rugged and untamed wilderness. As the investigation concludes, the community remembers Roman Butchaski not only for his contributions to radio but also for his passion for fishing and the joy he brought to those who knew him.
