In June 2014, Bill Scott was on a family fishing trip at a remote billabong in Kakadu National Park in the Northern Territory when the day turned into something no one could have imagined. While sitting in a small aluminum boat, Bill reached over the side to fill a bucket with water. In seconds, a large saltwater crocodile surged up from behind the motor, grabbed him and dragged him from the boat and under the surface.

His wife and family were right there. They watched it happen. There was nothing they could do.

Bill’s death is believed to be the first recorded fatality in the Northern Territory where a crocodile took someone from inside a boat. Up until then, much of the public safety messaging focused on swimming or standing at the water’s edge. This attack shattered the assumption that being in a vessel meant you were safe.

A coronial inquest was held in Darwin in 2015, where evidence was heard about crocodile behavior and the risks even experienced locals face. The coroner ultimately recommended clearer public warnings and updated safety messaging to reflect that crocodiles can and do attack people in boats, particularly small, low-sided ones.

Bill was remembered by his family as a devoted husband, father and grandfather who loved fishing and the Territory lifestyle. Their courage in speaking at the inquest helped spark broader conversations about crocodile awareness and education across the Top End.

Researched and written by: Kellie Arrowsmith

Audio editor: Bar Brawl Records

https://www.facebook.com/BarBrawlRecords

Cover art: http://www.joshbauer.com/

"Skimpy' - a Territory memoir: Kellie Arrowsmith Books - Hachette Australia

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