Remains of missing 12-year-old child found after suspected crocodile attack

Australian police said Thursday they had found remains of a missing 12-year-old child who was believed to have been attacked by a crocodile in the Northern Territory. The child was last seen on Tuesday night swimming in Mango Creek near Palumpa, a remote settlement about a seven-hour drive from Darwin, the capital of Australia’s Northern Territory.

Northern Territory Police confirmed the discovery, saying: “Initial reports are that the child was attacked by a crocodile.” The remains were found in the creek following an extensive search. Senior Sergeant Erica Gibson expressed the community’s sadness, saying: “This is devastating news for the family, the community and everyone involved in the search.”

The child and his family were visiting the creek when the incident occurred. Witnesses reported seeing a black crocodile in the immediate area, according to the police statement to ABC Radio.

Crocodile attacks in the Northern Territory, where there are over 100,000 crocodiles, are rare but not unknown. The region’s crocodiles can grow up to 6 metres long. In 2013, a 4.5 metre crocodile was shot dead after chasing locals near Palumpa.

Northern Territory Police have expressed their condolences to the family and community affected, stressing that while such incidents are rare, they are serious nonetheless.

In 2017, a man survived a non-fatal crocodile attack in the same area. Earlier this year, another crocodile was shot, cooked and eaten after threatening another community in the Northern Territory.