The search for New Zealand-born photographer Cindy Waldron has reached a grisly conclusion with human remains found inside a euthanased crocodile in far north Queensland.
The 46-year-old, a long-term NSW resident, was dragged under after venturing into water with friend Leeann Mitchell on Sunday night at Thornton Beach, north of Cairns.
Ms Mitchell is traumatised after desperate attempts to rescue Ms Waldron.
Search crews have spent the past five days scouring a stretch of coastline for any sign of Ms Waldron and the Queensland Environment Department organised three croc traps to be set at Cooper Creek.
A 2.5m crocodile was caught on Thursday but ruled out as the reptile that took Ms Waldron.
On Friday, a much larger 4.3m estuarine croc was trapped, humanely euthanased and sent to Cairns for scientific examination.
Police have now confirmed they have recovered what are believed to be human remains from inside the animal.
"At this stage, police believe the remains are those of a woman who was reported missing on May 29," they said in a statement.
The announcement confirmed the worst fears of Ms Waldron's father Pat and sister Anna-Lee Annett, who flew to Queensland from New Zealand earlier this week to be closer to where she spent her final days.
"We need to be here and cry on the beach," said Mr Waldron, who believed his daughter would have known about the risks of her late-night adventure.
The family has said it did not want the crocodile harmed because it was in its natural habitat.
Ms Annett, who admitted Ms Waldron did "something silly", has spoken to Ms Mitchell and said it was the most difficult conversation of her life.
If any good can come of the tragedy, it may be delivered in the form of a new awareness of the crocodile population in Queensland waterways.
Environment Minister Dr Steven Miles, who admitted the government did not know with scientific certainty whether croc numbers were rising or falling in some parts of the state, committed $5.8 million for better population surveys.
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