Malcom Douglas RIP

[busa_bloke]

The Broome crocodile farm bloke has been killed in a road accident after hitting a tree on his croc farm.

From ABC news there is a story about it.

[Hornet]

The original "Crocodile Hunter". Another sad day in terms of Australian icons dying.

WA adventurer and conservationist Malcolm Douglas dies in car crash | Perth Now

RENOWNED WA adventurer and conservationist Malcolm Douglas has died in a car crash at his Broome wildlife park overnight.
Malcolm Douglas was known as the original crocodile hunter, long before Steve Irwin rose to popular fame.

WA police said a man was killed after a four-wheel-drive vehicle crashed into a tree at about 6.30am in an area near the Douglas's Wilderness Wildlife Park in Broome.

They would not confirm the man's identity, saying next of kin were yet to be informed.

For more than 40 years, Douglas, also known as the ``barefoot bushman'', trekked across the Australian outback documenting his adventures through dozens of wildlife documentaries and television shows.

The 69-year-old's Crocodile Park opened in 1983 to enormous success, with tourists from all over the world flocking to the park to see and feed his crocodiles.

Later in life, Douglas was often overshadowed by the popularity of The Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin, who garnered global popularity with his exuberant demeanour and fearless behaviour.

However Douglas was alway seen as the man who set the mould for adventurers to come.

``What you see is what you get,'' he told Fairfax in 2009.

``I'm not fake and I don't pre-plan takes, it's all real. There's no helicopter on standby if something goes wrong. In places like the Kimberley one mistake and you're dead.''

He was virtually an overnight success after his first wildlife show, Across The Top, was screened in 1976.

``I was filming Aboriginal people killing kangaroos and drinking the blood because there wasn't any water,'' he said.

``No-one had seen anything like it and they loved it.''

Douglas was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2004 and told he had 18 months to live.

But just as he overcame the merciless terrain of the Australian outback and its venomous snakes and volatile crocs, Douglas beat his predatory disease.

``It changes your attitude too,'' he told the ABC while battling his illness.

``You try and remain calmer. You try and appreciate life. You appreciate every day, you know? Because, from now on, I could have been dead, and I'm, you know ... I'm still kickin'.''

Douglas is survived by his wife Valerie and two adult children, Amanda and Lachlan.

[JawDroppin]

Another legend passes on... RIP Mal! :'(

JD

[-stealth-]

Nooooooooooooooo...I grew up watching him on TV

RIP Malcolm

[Cbr1k]

The guy was a legend. RIP

[Sweetcheeks]

This man was awesome. I loved his farm up in Broome Spent heaps of time there while i was living up that way
RIP.

[Stephan]

RIP Malcom....

[Palms]

RIP Loved his show when I was a youngun

[polonY]

I remember him showing us the crocs as a child.

[Captain Starfish]

Strewth

[Nero Diablo]

Bugger one of the good guys IMO too, to a life lived less ordinary RIP.

[Ozboy]

RIP big Mal

[R160]

definately a icon, bloody good bush tips in his shows. I remember in one he caught a massive barra with a unbaited lure made with a hook and foil from a tin of milk powder !

[chief wiggum]

on a slightly lighter note, from facebook.......

Jess to Ryan: Oh my god, Malcolm Douglas is dead!
Ryan: Come again?
Jess: You know, Catherine Zeta-Jones husband.
Ryan: *Delight* She's back on the market!
..... dissappointment ensues :p

but yeah, sorry to see the old crusty dude go

[Sheikh Yerbouti]

that guy was the real thing, a dead set aussie legend.. RIP

[Roady]

Rip Mal...fair dinkum salt of the earth

[Mr D]

RIP Mate

[Brougham]

the real story of how he died is even sadder.

RIP dude, always the original croc hunter.

(i'm up in broome at the moment, working in the district police station, so got all the firsthand info that was held back from public)

EDIt - just checked perthnow and they've got some of the details now, they must've released it out this afternoon.

[Bealz]

The original outback man, He was the first...and the best. RIP Malcom.

[gravy]

Very sad to hear of the passing of this great Australian. RIP Mate.