THIS is the first picture of a British tourist police believe was eaten by a 20ft crocodile while camping beside a remote river.

Tragic Arthur Booker, 63, was on the trip of a lifetime in the Australian outback with wife Doris when he woke early yesterday to check his crab pots on the river bank.

When he failed to return, worried Doris went looking for him and found the crab pot rope snapped, along with large crocodile slidemarks and the couple’s new video camera.

Mr Booker’s watch and a lone sandal were also at the scene — but there was no sign of the Scots-born camper. A second sandal was later discovered 400 metres upstream.

Wildlife rangers and cops searched the area, but also failed to find any trace.

The hunt was called off but will resume today.

Last night police were convinced he had been taken by a saltwater croc dubbed Charlie by locals and known to stalk the Endeavour River, near Cooktown in far north Queensland.

One fellow camper said: “Arthur went down to check his crab pots and never came back. They think he was taken by a big croc.

“All they found was some huge skidmarks and claw prints in the mud on the riverbank. Most likely he’s been eaten.”

Ex-soldier Mr Booker, a Vietnam veteran, had lived in Australia for several years and was travelling the country by caravan.

He and Doris were packed up ready to move on to their next destination when tragedy struck.

Police and rangers confirmed that the area where Mr Booker vanished is the known territory of Charlie — once tagged for conservation purposes — and another monster croc dubbed Harriet.

Leanne Rayner, who owns the Endeavour River Escape bush camping ground, said Doris was so upset she was admitted to hospital for treatment.

She said: “Nobody knew what to say. We searched and searched. Mrs Booker was totally engulfed in grief.”

The Endeavour River is known for its teeming population of large saltwater crocodiles.

The period between 1985 and 2007 saw 17 croc attacks in Australia — five of them fatal.


THE SUN