Cause of Death Revealed for Former Radio Show Host Roman Butchaski

Almost two years after a former Australian radio show host disappeared while fishing, the local coroner has determined that a crocodile most likely killed him.

In late July, the Coroners Court of Queensland revealed the cause of death for 76-year-old Roman Butchaski, a former host of Australian channel 2GB, who disappeared on Nov. 12, 2023, near the Olive River Crossing in Shelburne, Queensland.

“[Butchaski] has likely been killed by a crocodile/other wild animal and his remains disposed of in that episode of misadventure,” wrote Coroner Christine Roney, according to documents reviewed by PEOPLE. She wrote that investigators’ evidence and witness testimony “about the nature and level of crocodile activity in the area” supported her conclusion.

Roney added that there was no evidence that the man’s “disappearance results from suicide or a staged disappearance.” 

The announcement brings an end to a painful saga for Butchaski’s friends and family. 

The 76-year-old from Sydney trained as a chemical engineer before he became the host of a fishing show on 2GB, according to the coroner.

A “keen and experienced fisherman,” Butchaski came to Bramwell Homestead, a historic cattle station in northern Queensland, to visit with longtime friends on Nov. 9, 2023. While he’d been fishing in the region before, he was not as familiar with Olive River, where he went fishing from morning until late afternoon on Nov. 10 and 11.

On Nov. 12, which was supposed to be Butchaski’s last day on the peninsula before he returned home, he left Bramwell on an all-terrain vehicle with a packed lunch and a fishing rod at 8 a.m. local time, Roney noted.

Butchaski’s friend became concerned when he didn’t come back at sunset as planned.

The man’s fear grew when he “drove his car out along the track to look for him, expecting to meet him as [Butchaski] traveled home. He did not,” Roney wrote. “His friend located the ATV buggy and no trace of [Butchaski].”

What followed was an extensive search effort by multiple agencies. They never found any other sign of Butchaski besides some items found in the buggy, according to the coroner. The search by land and air ended on Nov. 19, 2023. 

After Butchaski disappeared, investigators learned of the prevalence of crocodiles and dangerous wildlife in the area. The Department of Environment and Science (DES) initially told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation that there is “no evidence that a crocodile is involved in this incident,” but noted there is a risk in the area.

“Olive River is known croc country and people in the area are reminded to be crocwise in every choice,” the spokesperson said.

Now, according to Roney, there were two large saltwater crocodiles known to be in the area where Butchaski was last seen.

She ended her report by listing the ways she believes Butchaski could have entered the water, thus prompting the attack: being dragged in following a crocodile attack, losing his balance while fishing, or a medical episode that could have stemmed from his type 2 diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol and the extreme temperatures. 

“Once in the water, I believe [Butchaski] has been taken and killed, and likely consumed, by a large Saltwater crocodile inhabiting the upper reaches of the Olive River,” Roney concluded. 

Following the tragic news, loved ones remembered the avid fisherman. 

Butchaski’s former cohost, Michael Guest, told Fordham on a recent episode that his friend could get overly excited about a big catch. 

“I think as fishermen we get a bit complacent and especially when the fish are biting,” Guest said on the show.

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“It’s just one of those things, the hunting instinct, the instinct to catch that big fish sort of takes over and you tend to get a bit closer to the water than you should sometimes.”

Guest praised his late colleague’s relatability.

“He represented the average Joe Blow fisherman so well,” Guest said on 2GB, “and asked the right questions and created a really great banter.”