Search for croc expanded
BREAKING NEWS: Authorities have this morning expanded the boundaries of their search along the Endeavour River near Cooktown to find the body of suspected croc victim Arthur Booker and the beast responsible for the attack.
At the request of the Queensland Coroner, crews of police, rangers and emergency services officers resumed the search at first light and extended their patrols more than 2kms up and downstream.
See photos of search for missing man
Mr Booker, 62, vanished from the bank of the north arm of the Endeavour River after going to check his crab pots about 830am on Tuesday.
His wife Doris was admitted to Cooktown hospital shortly after his disappearance, but is believed to have been released this morning.
Cairns police Insp. Ian Swan told The Cairns Post that members of Mr Booker's family, who arrived in Cooktown yesterday, were holding up under intense distress.
"We are continuing the search of the river this morning and we're searching the banks," he said.
"The search has been extended by a couple of kilometres and we will search further upstream and downstream.
"The family is still distressed but they're coping under the circumstances."
Rangers are focusing their attentions on at least three crocs in particular, including a 6m monster known as "Charlie" and two females named "Harriet" and "Blackie".
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The search for missing camper Arthur Booker, believed to have been taken by a croc near Cooktown, has been expanded.
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