Horror crocodile attack: Cindy Waldron's final moments revealed

It was a quiet tropical night, as two childhood friends celebrated at the beach. Happily walking through the shallow water, the unthinkable happens - a terrifying crocodile attack. Denham Hitchcock sits down with survivor Leeann Mitchell to hear the gripping story about the night her best friend Cindy Waldron was killed.
Key Chapters in this video:
00:00 Horror Crocodile attack
02:10 Protect humans or crocodiles?
03:39 Night-time crocodile hunt
06:03 Remembering Cindy
09:00 Reliving the horror
14:37 Croc catching with Roger
18:11 Terri Irwin's mission
21:13 Controversial solution
22:57 Revisiting the past
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#7news #spotlight #documentary #crocodile #australia #steveirwin

[@deborahbriskie4330]

So sad. I'm so sorry you lost your best friend like that, how horrific and my heart goes out to all who loved her. But we can not allow Australia to become like the rest of the world. Killing our animals for sport and money. We as humans are so destructive. We won't be happy until we make every animal disappear from the face of this beautiful planet of ours. We need to protect them because they all have a massive impact on the eco system, the environment needs them all. There should be warning signs everywhere.. warning all.. the risk is high being in their territory. Love to you and her family. ❤

[@Baxjr88]

dont wade in the water at night in croc country that simple

[@kellygarsed2561]

Or day time for that matter

[@samuraininjarockstar9355]

The story is sad & tragic but I can’t think why anyone let alone Native Aussies would enter the sea or waterholes , River at night or day in the Northern part of the country , absolutely madness , you can’t blame an animal in its natural habitat , also the sea there is home to Box jellyfish, Great white , Tiger & Bull sharks, even Steve Irwin wouldn’t have done that .

[@Baxjr88]

@@samuraininjarockstar9355 no you don't get great whites in the north U get bull sharks an Tigger sharks

[@nakagurl88]

the women are idiots for not knowing and understanding the dangers of the environment they chose to holiday in

[@byron6552]

THANK YOU.

[@vichess7315]

Two places I wouldn't go in the water or out into the wild are Australia and Africa....especially at night.

[@iloveschicken6527]

Don't forget Florida!

[@pascalswager9100]

They better stay in friggin Queensland! That's why I stay outta there and the humidity lol

[@einienj3281]

People think they own the planet and that animals should know that.. time for some humble pie.

[@iloveschicken6527]

@@einienj3281 Facts!

[@mvsmvs8428]

o plenty of spots in australia that are safec as can be

[@leeleefertig-washington2520]

I’m sorry. I’m not trying to be an a hole… but two Aussie ladies who are well aware of their surroundings!!!! Why would you do this? It’s like me and my friend going into the swamp at night Just sad! Horribly sad!!!

[@danasandoval624]

Exactly, they knew the crocs were there they were warned yet still ignored all this. Yes the story is sad but was completely available.

[@samuraininjarockstar9355]

@@danasandoval624totally agree, tragic but why would you swim in such dangerous areas.

[@danasandoval624]

@@samuraininjarockstar9355 exactly, sad but these women live in a country with crocodiles & know better. They also knew the area they were there are more of them. Anytime you are in the area of wildlife you should never put yourself in a situation that can cost you your life. Very sad.

[@joshualeonard4658]

They're not Australian ... New Zealanders

[@schneewitschen101]

I agree, to a point. It’s a common misconception that shallow waters are safe. I once saw 3 enormous crocs vanish into a very small…pool for lack of a better word that I knew was 18-24 inches deep. The general public has the tendency to underestimate the danger and really should be better educated what it means to be “croc wise”.

[@meplife7313]

This is just horrific. Although going to the water at night is always going to be risky. I hope she can heal from this... would definitely cause PTSD.

[@Madronaxyz]

I am completely baffled by the idea of walking in the water there--especially at night.

[@freya6941]

So sad, but simple precautions would have avoided this. The emotional pain is so obvious and I hope this lady gets some peace over time.

[@12time12]

Swimming in croc and sharky waters will always be risky. At least with sharks they generally aren’t predatory attacks, but with crocodilians they will absolutely see you as dinner. We can’t tailor the world to suit us, so we must treat such creatures with caution and respect. These predators are needed in their respective environments.

[@DenjiSuper]

Darwin prize winner. The majority of humans have become quite unaware of the reality of Nature.

[@seanservo3105]

You can and should tailor it to suit you, plenty are ready and able. You simply don’t want to. You enjoy the harder and more uninformed route. For others. You probably don’t even enjoy the water and prefer making waves.

[@rawdog314]

Two aussies who knew the risks but chose to ignore it, heartbreaking but so easily avoidable.

[@joshualeonard4658]

They are from New Zealand 😅

[@rawdog314]

@@joshualeonard4658 her friend was from Cairns, either way they both would of known the risk, idiotic comment

[@GoldyBar]

the crocs live there. It's their home. This is awful but we must respect the animals.

[@DenjiSuper]

Is that what they say in Chicago, Baltimore, San Francisco and the other big blue cities?

[@rawdog314]

​@@DenjiSuperwhat you chattin?

[@GG-hu9dn]

Perhaps you should try saying that if someone you care about got eaten by one of these monsters?! Who will even eat each other?!

[@jolo3118]

​@@DenjiSuper I vote Rep as well but I fail to see the connection between this and whether someone is a dem or rep. These women were literally in the crocs home.

[@rawdog314]

@@GG-hu9dn plenty of places to swim in Australia and be safe,it was stupidity in the highest degree,awful way to go and very sad but so easily avoidable.

[@maryscott9430]

What an awesome set of bffs. This is so sad. Im sure she has trauma from seeing her friend taken like that and not being able to do more. My heart breaks for them.

[@sukijay4990]

I would have been nervous to go to a deserted beach at night anyway due to a possible attack from human predators, never mind crocodiles. This is a horrific story, I can’t even imagine the trauma of being in the water in the dark struggling against a massive beast. She was brave trying to find her friend before leaving to get help.

[@MPPG663]

Exactly. I don't understand people who don't have an ounce of situational awareness.

[@JacquiQ]

I went up there in the 80's. went on a day trip from Cairns, we were told the beach is beautiful but there are salties in the sea so do not swim, we never went near the water, and as a foreign tourist I knew not to swim up there or in the sea at Darwin for same reason. I would not have even paddled in the water. I think it it is just a terrible accident and very sad. Maybe culling is called for but you have to respect where these creatures live, u can't kil em all off so we can go for a swim. what do the local indigenous peoples think abt it ? Be nice to have their opinion/knowledge/wisdom on the subject.

[@nictennick1650]

"it's just common sense isn't it?" I thought that was the case with entering water in croc country? Especially at night!

[@jasegalaxy74]

That beach at night !!! Scary as! No one around and besides Crocs, what about bull sharks, box jellyfish and irukandji ! 😬

[@MURKYDEEP]

We can't tailor the world to just suite us. . . .sorry.

[@petergough2534]

What a dreadful sad story but forgive me for saying why go out to that beach in the pitch dark of the night especially in a remote part of the world. 🇬🇧

[@starlooker6612]

Hate to say it but maybe alcohol was a contributing factor? I know what it's like when female friends get together and want to have fun being one myself.

[@selwyn500]

More education especially for tourists. Anyone should be aware of their environment. Crocs are masters of ambush.🏃🐊

[@bearcatracing007]

Signs everywhere in multiple languages!

[@alfountain5726]

When she said i wanted to feel what she felt because that's what I thought I deserved.....😢 I felt that. She was fighting a lost battle. 🕳️🖤🕳️

[@-Awareness]

Weren’t Australian crocodiles at endangered levels in the 70’s?…

[@kiki29073]

Yes until the Irwins went all out on fighting the government and others to protect certain areas. Steve sunk a lot of his money in pirchased 100,000 acres of remote land in several places. Terri had to fight back and forth for years to gain control. There were land developers of course paying off government officials probably getting injunctions on her. I think she finally just in the past few years won. It is just like in the USA alligators were critically endangered. They put a ban on. All hunting for about thirty years and the population boomed. Now they are back in even higher numbers than they were originally in some places and states had to reintroduce tag systems to allow hunting again.

[@amandawhite9362]

Yeah they were being poisoned by toads 🐸

[@christinejackson3922]

I have up there a few times for holidays and its a beautiful part of Australia but like a lot of areas in Australia you must respect and be aware of the environment and surroundings and everything will be ok

[@samuraininjarockstar9355]

The hunter in the video is going to say Cull them, he’s thinking of his bank balance , I’m definitely on the side of the Irwin family .

[@paulbowman1762]

I can feel Leeann's pain watching this ! So Tragic and im so sorry for Cindy's loss ! Godbless ! 🙏🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

[@ODGreenZa]

Im south african my sister lives in Australia. When i visit i know not to go in the water. We dont have salt water crocodiles but ive seen nile crocodiles in the ocean after storms around st lucia area. Dont ever think youre safe in the ocean

[@LTV_inc]

Yikes. This has to be the scariest thing ever. Eaten by a 🦕, alive.

[@stargazer4625]

THIS IS UNBELIEVABLY SAD. I live in the States. I actually had a dream that alligators were chasing me and trying to eat me the other night. Not making this up. It was frightening. I can only imagine the terror these two ladies went through. My prayers are with them and their family's. 😢

[@Jaya-zn7vr]

I was told a story from an Aboriginal fella about 40 years ago. He told me that each Aboriginal tribe had a sacred animal. They never harmed or ate them, they looked after them. Another tribe may have a different animal at the heart of their tribe. Again, they didn't harm or eat their totam animal. So, it was not disrespectful to eat the animal from another tribe. In this way, they stop stopped over hunting each species AND over-population. Does this not make complete sense!? Croc's have no preditors. Maybe if we were more like aboriginal peoples, there would be balance.

[@jenniferlopez3554]

Oh my goodness 😢 Crocodiles are ferocious creatures, great predators but so dangerous 😢

[@gayledillon9395]

In cairns we have them in the suburbs

[@margaretchabaud9700]

Hardly

[@bearcatracing007]

😂😂😂😂😂

[@colinlea2377]

Love the croc guys attitude, geezer.

[@chriscolton6329]

100,000 Salties roaming about in the Northern Territory seems a bit excessive, in terms of conservation! How many crocodiles do you need?

[@lydiamcpherson7925]

There are over a million alligators and crocodiles far South in Florida.....

[@kimberlycross2443]

I don’t even swim in the water at daytime in north/far north QLD

[@mrwaynemysteryvoice]

Put your hands in a bee hive expect to get stung

[@dannypashley5552]

Anywhere from about Rockhampton upwards are big croc and tiger sharks is another big one in Queensland too

[@Cablecol]

The Swamp People reality show needs to film here!

[@user-bx8nx5gk4z]

It was great to see Terry again😎

[@Jake-ky9ed]

Animal just does what its nature is, insanely horrible story but avoidable. That said, animal has to be regulated, people first. The idea of people paying for tags is the solution, economy builder and the money goes back to land and animal conservation efforts. That beach wasn’t known for crocodiles but they have legs, they swim, they travel.

[@elizabethmccommons3379]

Night or day, alligators or crocs, they stalk any animal, child or grandmother. There are 30,000 alligators just in lake Okeechobee in Florida. I was terrified living in Florida with children and pets. When the hurricanes spread water, no place is safe. I believe it is absolutely out of control. Let the people who need the meat harvest what they need. Every river, every pond or drainage ditch is like a ticking time bomb. It reminds me of dinosaurs that ambush on the loose. It really is the same thing.😮

[@jesuschrist7169]

Maybe stick to that pretend free country

[@Cablecol]

Hence, the reality show Swamp People. I approve of them since they hunt for survival and summer income since they are local people in Louisiana, Florida and Texas.

[@weldingLLC]

They were there before you lol yearssss before you

[@einienj3281]

That will happen when you share nature with animals that are capable if hunting humans.. I don't blame a bear attacking a human in the woods. Stay out of the woods.

[@diabolicaldoodle]

So much drama. This was like a movie.

[@einienj3281]

And anti alligator propaganda.

[@Jettabbg]

@@einienj3281Anti-croc*

[@bearcatracing007]

The fearmongering is almost embarrassing 😂 so croc levels are coming back to what they were before humans almost wiped them off earth! Its croc country, dont go near the water, simple! Hence why there are pools everywhere!

[@turtlejeepjen314]

Crocodiles edited to have *ROARING LION* sound effects😂

[@nakagurl88]

that's no edit 😂 your just a idiot

[@pr.harveyflash1596]

💔💔

[@mvsmvs8428]

nothing you can do save yourself and move on

[@DWHalse]

HOW IN THE HECK DID CROCS GET TO AUSTRALIA????

[@justinskinner7874]

Common sense is 2 drunk girls should stay out of crocodile infested waters at night

[@elainevankat5353]

Yup!

[@harrysingh2874]

Human invasion... not croc or animal invasion. Common sense and safety regulations are on a downward spiral... Government and authorities need to pull up their socks in maintaining basic safety regulations and natural habitat... Big Time.

[@drdeborahhockney5609]

Crazt to wade into crocodile country water😮

[@modernlegacy5555]

Remote location very few people. Sounds like a great place to swim at night. What could possibly go wrong?

[@hixxyted1244]

Never go River lake swimming etc in Florida Australia

[@susanlewis208]

People should always be cautious and know the risks,that's a human mistake. Yet there are hunting seasons for many animals. I don't want to see humans go crazy and not have laws but the over population of any animal can be fatal. Where is the protection for people as well as animals/reptiles! I love reptiles but there has to be a balance

[@christopherdale7017]

I couldn't help but feel this woman,but unfortunately Crocodiles don't have any human trates and all the see us as food.

[@GG-hu9dn]

I say Crocs need to have some idea of their place in the evolutionary scheme of things? One of which is to fear humanity?!

[@bradz9413]

18:57 tears run down my cheeks, I confess.

[@saravis56]

Just accept, the water belongs to the critters. You wouldn’t trespass in a stranger’s house, stay out of the crocs’.

[@marisaelyse82]

It kinda sounds like she sold her soul to save the other womans life

[@jk5335]

RIP and thoughts to the lady but if people are complaining about crocodiles in remote areas then they don't want them to live anywhere. The hicks should just cut the BS about "numbers" and just admit to wanting to wipe them out. I'm sure around 1% of hatchlings reach adulthood so nature already has a system for them. Also, last time I checked, humans aren't amphibious, so we ALWAYS have a choice to avoid them.

[@jenniferlopez3554]

The place was infested with crocodiles 🐊

[@TheAbrantino]

Its a well known fact that in Austrália even house cats piss poisen

[@amandawhite9362]

I heard that the toads were killing them

[@teresagillmer9464]

Do they ever eat each other?I'd rather stay in Cape Town South Africa

[@martinaston8044]

Enter the “ lion’sden “ at your own peril !

[@bigwill9430]

Queensland Northern Territory do not swim in Rivers and Beaches chances your gonna come a Crocodile is high stick to the local Swimming Pool simple

[@johngriffin7397]

Hunters contribute more to wildlife and wildlife habitat than all other groups combined. Keeping crocodiles #'s in check is responsible stewardship not only for all other wildlife but to people

[@fergie250769]

No common sense...whats a croc supposed to do? Free food

[@elainevankat5353]

She needs to write a book…. “I Got Cancer and My Best Friend Got Eaten by A Crocodile”

[@jesuschrist7169]

Two girls, one croc...

[@yankeetherebel]

People matter most and governments should ALWAYS prioritize the welfare of their citizens over the local wildlife. Period. With that said, I also don't want any more animals to go extinct. The good news is that there's a ton of middle ground on this issue. Despite what Steve Irwin's wife would have you believe, it's not a choice between protecting the people of Australia by hunting crocodiles to extinction or allowing the crocodile population to continue to explode unchecked at the expense of everyone and everything else. It's more than possible to protect both the the people of Australia while also ensuring crocodiles continue to exist in REASONABLE numbers. This is achieved with many different species of animals throughout the world via regulated hunting. Regulated hunting keeps animal populations at healthy, but controllable numbers and minimizes the odds of human casualties. It's not didficult nor is it unreasonable. F*ck Steve's wife's feelings.

[@jesuschrist7169]

It's ok to say you have no idea how it all works up here lol

[@NathalieCwiekSwiercz]

​@@jesuschrist7169exactly haha! people really do be sitting and watching stuff on YT and then thinking they knows more than the experts 😂😂

[@calebsmith2362]

How typical, a user named "Yankee the Rebel" is preaching unenlightened verbal diarrhea to Australians regarding regional conservation. A subject she knows nothing about yet feels so inclined to speak of confidently.

[@bloodswan]

Nature doesn't need to being check, only humans do since they try to remove themselves from nature, an impossible feat mind you. It's pretty easy to avoid being attacked by a crocodile.

[@ericcaisse791]

From Cairns every waterway has croc signs and there from Aust how could u not know my guess alcohol

[@adrinjohnson8511]

May Jehovah Bless You for your courage to speak about such calamity. Leviathan King of Wild Beasts pure reptile Wild. Sadly you did not know!