BBC caught out over ‘scary’ croc Olympic Games footage
The BBC have taken down a video supposedly showing crocodiles lurking in Rockhampton’s Olympic and Paralympic venue after it was revealed it was filmed 3500km away.
The BBC has removed a video story after Nationals Leader Matt Canavan accused it of using the wrong crocodile-inhabited river.
The British broadcaster had also issued a correction after using what Canavan said was “scary” footage from another river in an Instagram post about the proposed central Queensland site for rowing for the 2032 Olympic Games.
The footage in a story about the Rockhampton venue – titled “River with 500 crocodiles chosen as Olympic rowing venue” – showed a giant reptile lurking in the Fitzroy River.
However, Canavan said the footage was from Western Australia’s Fitzroy River – about 3500 kilometres away.
The BBC had since added a correction to a refreshed Instagram post.
“An earlier version of this video included footage of the Fitzroy River in the Kimberley region of Western Australia instead of the Fitzroy River in Queensland,” it said.
“This has now been corrected.”
Canavan welcomed the decision, adding the updated story used library footage.
The BBC post appeared to no longer be available on Tuesday.
On Monday, the post featured the croc footage in a story about the Fitzroy River at Rockhampton being endorsed by world governing bodies for 2032.
“Would you go rowing in this river?” it said.
Stay informed, daily
Canavan, who lives at nearby Yeppoon, said the report was “so full of it I am just surprised they didn’t report that our town was infested with drop bears too”.
Queensland Premier David Crisafulli also weighed in, calling the coverage a “crock”.
Canavan warned international media that any fake reports would come back to bite.
“I want to assure international media that the Fitzroy River – the Queensland one – is safe and also the perfect venue for the 2032 Games,” he said.
The Queensland government had been under pressure to reconsider the rowing venue after pitching it in March 2025, prompting debate over the Fitzroy River’s safety, fairness and legacy.
Last week, Crisafulli reportedly blindsided Olympic officials when he claimed the venue had passed an independent technical assessment “with flying colours” and been endorsed by world governing bodies.
Critics have warned the state government that the Rockhampton plan it is not over the line yet.
The International Olympic Committee is yet to approve a sustainability and environmental report. The independent Games authority is also still to finalise a project validation report on the site’s design, value for money and legacy.
-with AAP
Want to see more stories from InDaily Qld in your Google search results?
- Click here to set InDaily Qld as a preferred source.
- Tick the box next to "InDaily Qld". That's it.
