A “hero” doctor whose body was found inside a crocodile saved his wife before being eaten, it was revealed on Tuesday.

Dr David Hogbin’s wife Jane recounted the “wonderful” father-of-three’s last act was to let go of her hand so she was not pulled into the Annan River, in Australia’s Far North Queensland, where the 16ft crocodile lay in wait.

“David touched so many people’s lives that everyone deserves to know who he was and how it all ended for him,” Mrs Hogbin said.

“I want to put a face to this tragedy – someone didn’t just get killed by a crocodile, we have lost a wonderful husband, father, son, brother, friend and doctor.”

She added: “Dave was just the most calming, grounding person to have around in a crisis, and he was so loving, thoughtful, handsome, fiercely loyal and protective, and intelligent.”

Police confirmed on Tuesday that rangers had killed a male saltwater crocodile found two miles from where the 40-year-old disappeared, in Cooktown, on Saturday. Human remains were found inside the animal.

Dr Hogbin’s parents, Kym and Peter, and siblings Chris, Mike and Bec, said they would make sure his children knew “how brave he was – he was a hero”.

He and his wife had been enjoying a caravan trip with their three young sons when “everything just changed within 30 seconds”, as part of a walking trail collapsed.

The riverbank was “five metres high – well out of a crocodile’s striking range,” his sister-in-law, Alexis Carey, said, but Dr Hogbin lost his footing and fell into the water at a spot known locally as “Crocodile Bend”.

“Despite being tall, strong and fit” the slippery and steep conditions made it impossible for him to get himself out of the water, Ms Carey said.

“But Jane was nearby, and after hearing the splash, she slid down to desperately try and pull Dave out,” she said.

“Due to the steepness and slipperiness of the bank, she was able to grab his arm, but soon began slipping into the river herself.

“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.”

The family said Dr Hogbin’s “brave decision in that terrifying moment very likely saved his wife’s life, ensuring she was able to return to their boys”.

“He saved me – his last act was to not pull me in with him,” Mrs Hogbin said.

The family corrected earlier reports that Dr Hogbin had been fishing at the time of his death, stressing that he was “cautious by nature” and “acutely aware of the dangers posed by crocodiles”.

It followed media reports that authorities were investigating a video showing people illegally throwing off-cuts of fish to feed a crocodile seen in that area of the river.

Three people have died in crocodile attacks in Australia this year, including a young girl who was killed while swimming in the Northern Territory and a teen boy who was killed while swimming in Queensland.