Thornton Beach is a coastal town and locality in the Shire of Douglas, Queensland, Australia.

[4] Thornton Beach is bounded to the south by the Cape Tribulation Road and to the east by the Coral Sea.

[2] On 29 May 2016, a 46-year-old woman visiting from New South Wales was attacked by a crocodile while swimming at the beach with her friend, who attempted unsuccessfully to rescue her before she was taken.

[7] Police conducted a search of the coastline and surrounding estuaries, and the woman was later confirmed to be dead.

[8] The attack sparked conversations of crocodile population culling in the area, initiated by federal MP Bob Katter.