CNN —Australian police believe they have found the remains of a 12-year-old child reportedly attacked by a crocodile while swimming in a creek in the Northern Territory, they said on Thursday.
“This is devastating news for the family, the community and everyone involved in the search,” senior sergeant Erica Gibson said in a statement.
A search and rescue operation with community assistance was launched to find the child, and police scoured a large section of the creek by boat, they said on Wednesday.
The search team was authorized to “remove the crocodile from the area,” Northern Territory police minister Brent Potter said, according to CNN affiliate 7news.
There are more than 100,000 crocodiles – which can grow up to six meters (20 feet) long – in the Northern Territory, though fatal attacks are relatively rare.
Persons:
”, Erica Gibson, Brent Potter, Gibson, Palumpa, 7news
Organizations:
CNN, “ Police, Northern, 7news, Associated Press
Locations:
Northern Territory, Palumpa, Northern, Darwin, Australia