A family vacation turned into a tragic and fatal situation suddenly and without warning on August 3, 2024. The family on vacation was Dave Hogbin, a 40-year-old doctor, his wife Jane Hogbin and their three young boys ages 2, 5 and 7.

The Hogbin family was enjoying a camping trip in northern Queensland, Australia. On Saturday August 3rd, Jane and Dave were walking along a path near a river that was known to be the home to a large crocodile. That’s when the tragedy occurred.

Alex Ward, a family friend, explained the tragic events on GoFundMe. He wrote, “While walking along an established path on a riverbank, it is believed a portion of the bank gave way, causing Dave to fall into the river with a known crocodile. Jane, who was nearby but not walking with Dave at the time, heard the splash and slid down to desperately try and pull him out.”

Unfortunately, Jane wasn’t able to help her husband. Instead, he made the decision to sacrifice his own life to save hers. Alex wrote, “Due to the steepness and slipperiness of the bank, Jane was able to grab his arm but began slipping into the river herself. Dave’s final, decisive act was to let go of Jane’s arm when he realised she was slipping in, an act that likely saved her life.”

Tragically, the worst case scenario happened. The crocodile got Dave. Alex explained, “In a world-shattering instant, Dave was taken by the crocodile. One small consolation is that none of Dave’s children witnessed this event.”

Alex set up a GoFundMe to help raise money for Jane and her boys “to try to take away some of the immediate financial burden associated with such tragic events and support them while they try to navigate life without Dave.” As of the time of publication, $121,000 Australian dollars have already been raised, far surpassing the original goal of $20,000.

This tragic event took place in Cooktown. CBS News reports that wildlife rangers found a 16 foot crocodile 2.5 miles from where Dave was taken. They euthanized the crocodile and believe they found Dave’s remains inside.

The family released a statement about the event, and Jane believes her husband’s decision to let go of her hand saved her life. In the statement, she said, “He saved me – his last act was to not pull me in with him. I’m glad I’m still here because it could have been a millionfold worse for everyone involved, not just the boys.”

Ward shared, “Dave had achieved something that we will all strive to emulate; he realised before it was too late that he had everything he needed in life in his family, friends, and the time they were able to enjoy together. His enthusiasm and cheer were infectious, none more so than when he was on 4WD and camping adventures with his family and friends.”

Watch the video below to learn more about this tragic event.