Hero dad saved wife's life before being killed by 16-foot crocodile

A man has been praised as a hero after saving his wife's life before he was killed by a 16ft crocodile.

Dr Dave Hogbin, 40, had been out on a camping trip in Queensland with his family when tragedy struck.

A section of the riverbank collapsed, sending Dave tumbling into the crocodile infested water.

In a statement his family said that the conditions meant he couldn't get himself out of the water 'despite being tall, strong and fit'.

His wife Jane had rushed to his aid, but soon found that she became stuck in the mud of the riverbank.

There was a real danger that had he kept hold of her arm, she would have been pulled in as well.

Dave Hogbin saved his wife Jane before his death. (Family Photo via news.com.au)

In a heartbreaking and selfless final act, Dave let go of Jane's arm to avoid her being dragged in with him.

Just a few seconds later, he was killed by a crocodile.

Jane said: “We were just enjoying a standard day of our holiday and everything just changed within 30 seconds. He wasn’t doing anything wrong – in fact, he was doing everything right, and this still happened...

“He saved me – his last act was to not pull me in with him."

She went on to say: “I have a lot of comfort in knowing there’s nothing that I’m frustrated or angry about – he was just walking around a corner on a well-worn path.

"There’s no regrets about it, because it’s one of those random accidents that happen and nothing could have been done to prevent.”

She added: “We want people to know how brave he was – he was a hero, and the boys will always know that.

“He was being selfless in his final moment and we’re really proud of that, even though it was putting him in danger.

Dave let go of his wife's hand so she didn't also fall in. (Family Photo via news.com.au)

“We’re going to miss him, he can’t be replaced, and we’re super proud of him. It brings us some comfort to know that in the last years of Dave’s life, he had never been happier."

Journalist Alexis Carey is Dave's sister-in-law, and paid tribute to him on news.com.au.

She said: "Dave’s final, decisive act was to let go of Jane’s arm when he realised she was falling in, despite knowing she was his only lifeline. Within moments, he was taken.

"Dave’s brave decision in that terrifying moment very likely saved his wife’s life, ensuring she was able to return to their boys."

She added that it was a 'small piece of consolation' that the pair's children did not witness their dad's final moments.

Wildlife rangers later euthanised a 16ft crocodile around 2.5 miles away from where Dave was killed.

A GoFundMe page has been set up to help the family with the financial burden of Dave's passing.