Charlene O’Sullivan: A Powerful Advocate for Crocodile Safety
In 2025 we had the privilege of meeting Charlene O’Sullivan in Australia's Northern Territory.
Image: Charlene O'SULLIVAN (Captured during interview Wild Creek).
In 2009 Charlene's 11 year old daughter, Briony Goodsell, lost her life in a crocodile attack at a wet season creek in the Black Jungle Reserve. It was a tragic incident that remains in the memory of many locals and family.
We could particularly relate to this incident because less than seven years before this incident took place, one of our Wild Creek members was one of many Territory teenagers swimming in wet season creeks and culverts alongside the roads around Humpty Doo.
"It was something that was commonplace back then and certainly not something we would ever do again today. We'd jump into flooded creeks, float hundreds of metres downstream on tubes, climb out, walk back upstream and do it all over again. Neither we nor our parents thought twice about it."
Meeting Charlene 17 years after the incident was an incredible learning experience. Charlene recalled the events of 2009 and how they have shaped her life to the present day.
Charlene spoke with remarkable strength and clarity about her lived experience and without question, is one of the most powerful advocates for crocodile safety we've met. It goes without saying that she has endured something few people could ever comprehend.
Charlene emphasised that life is for living and not to sweat the small things. Despite everything she has been through, she doesn't believe people should live in fear. As she put it, something as small as a tick could be responsible for your undoing, let alone a large apex predator like a crocodile.
Charlene now operates a crocodile farm in memory of her daughter Briony and continues to share an important message about crocodile safety. She regularly comes across people swimming in wet season creeks and will often pull over to speak with them, sharing her family's story in the hope it might prevent another tragedy.
Image: Briony Goodsell (Supplied C.O'SULLIVAN)