Ex-radio host 'taken and consumed by crocodile' after vanishing on fishing trip

Tributeshave been paid to a popular former radio host who disappeared while fishing near a crocodile-infested river.

Roman Butchaski, a fishing expert who hosted a show about the pasttime on Australian radio, was fishing near Oliva River in November 2023 when he vanished.

A coroner said two crocodiles had been spotted in the area in the weeks before the expert fisherman disappeared, and believes that he was killed and eaten by one of the reptiles.

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In her findings published on July 30, coroner Christine Roney said: "The fact that no sign of the missing person was located during the extensive and thorough search leads me to suspect the MP (missing person) has entered the water and has been consumed by a crocodile."

"It is highly probable given the fact that there are large crocodiles which inhabit that section of water.

"It is also highly probable given the type of fishing the missing person was doing which involved him getting close to the water's edge and traversing snags in the form of fallen trees and steep banks and flicking small lures as close to these snags as possible."

Paying tribute to Roman today, radio host Ben Fordham said he was glad his friends and family finally had the closure they'd been seeking.

"It's awful when something terrible happens to anyone, but when you don't know what happened, it's even worse," Fordham said on 2GB, the same station Roman had worked for.

"So in many ways, we are relieved to know what happened to Butch. So to Butch's family who are listening, we're thinking of you guys, and we only hope that you feel the same way that we do that, even though it's not what we want to hear."

Co-host of The Outdoor and Fishing Show, Michael Guest, added that the coroner's findings were expected.

"It's not until it sort of touches you directly that you actually sort of feel this really strange sort of empty feeling where there's no closure," he told Fordham. "So it's nice to get some closure through the words of the coroner. I agree totally with what she said and it's what I thought happened in the first place, early days."

A huge land and air search was launched for the veteran Sydney Radio 2GB presenter before a search party tracked down his vehicle, fishing road and some personal possessions, though there was no other sign of the veteran fisherman.

The alarm was first raised when he failed to return to his camp at Bramwell Station.

The Mail reported that 2GB host, Ben Fordham, told listeners at the time: “Butch is missing”. A local reporter, Harry Clark, also speaking to the station, added: “He [Butch] borrowed a side by side buggy from a friend and travelled about an hour to go fishing along the banks of the the Olive River. All that they've found of Butch is that vehicle with a few personal effects such as a fishing rod that was found on Sunday afternoon and he hasn't been seen since.”

He added that the area he’s in, Cape York and the Olive River, is a tidal saltwater river, and like all other ones are known crocodile habitats. This, he said, was “certainly” something authorities were taking into consideration.

ABC reported Queensland Police said at the time: " Emergency services were called to the area last night after the man, aged in his 60s, failed to return. Police and the Rescue 700 helicopter commenced the search yesterday evening and recommenced search efforts at first light this morning. Additional officers are travelling from Bamaga this morning to assist."