Crocodile named 'Michael Jackson' shot dead after killing fisherman in front of his wife

King of Croc: Beast was named after Jacko

A rare 15ft crocodile ­nicknamed Michael Jackson savaged a fisherman to death as his wife watched in horror.

The couple were on the river bank when the angler waded into the water to untangle his line.

His wife had her back turned but heard screams and saw the giant reptile’s tail thrashing as it victim, 57, was dragged underwater.

Australian police and rangers hunted and shot the crocodile after she raised the alarm on Monday. The man’s body was found that night.

Tour boat guides on the Adelaide River named the croc after the late King of Pop as it was half-albino.

Rob Marchard, who runs Jumping Croc cruises near Darwin, in the Northern Territory, said: “Michael Jackson was one in a million.

"They know how to do three major things – eat, reproduce and aggression. If you don’t look after yourself, you find yourself eaten.”

The shot reptile was often encouraged to leap from the water for chicken carcasses dangled from boats.

But Mr Marchand rejected claims it made them more aggressive.

He said: “I’m sure crocs knew how to eat people before we came along.”

It was the third fatal croc attack in Australia this year.

Adam Britton, a reptile expert at Charles Darwin University, said: “They acted appropriately to shoot him, but it’s a real shame they had to do it.

"He was a well-known, well-loved crocodile.”