Search teams are combing Mango Creek in Australia’s Northern Territories after the disappearance of a 12-year-old child suspected to have been attacked by a crocodile. (Craig P. Jewell/Getty Images)
A
12-year-old missing in remote northern Australia may have been “attacked
by a crocodile”, police said Wednesday as search teams combed a creek for
signs of the child.
The
child disappeared on Tuesday evening after swimming at Mango Creek near
Palumpa, a small, largely Indigenous settlement about seven hours’ drive
southwest of the territory capital, Darwin.
“Initial
reports stated the child had been attacked by a crocodile,” Northern
Territory Police said in a statement, adding that officers were now
“searching a large section of the creek via boat”.
Crocodile
attacks are rare but not unheard of in Australia’s sparsely populated Northern
Territory.
READ | Wife’s quick thinking saves Middelburg man from the jaws of a crocodile
A
4.5-metre crocodile was shot and killed after stalking locals near Palumpa in
2013.
In
2017, a 54-year-old man was mauled in a non-fatal attack in the same area.
Earlier
this year, a saltwater crocodile was shot, cooked and eaten after menacing a
different Northern Territory community.
We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.
Discussion about this post