A young girl has died after being attacked by a crocodile while swimming in a remote creek in Australia.
The 12-year-old was reported missing on Tuesday afternoon shortly after she went swimming in Mango Creek, near Palumpa – a remote town of around 350 people seven hours by road from Darwin.
Her injuries confirmed she was attacked by a crocodile, Senior Sergeant Erica Gibson of the Northern Territory Police said.
It is understood the girl was on holiday with her family when she visited the creek.
It was reported that a black crocodile was seen in the immediate area, police told ABC Radio.
"This is devastating news for the family, the community and everyone involved in the search,” Senior Sergeant Gibson said in a statement.
She said the recovery was "particularly gruesome, and a sad outcome".
Ms Gibson said it had been an "extremely difficult" 36 hours for the family and first responders, who were being supported by police.
The incident was, she added, a "salient reminder" that waterways in the Northern Territory "could always have crocodiles in them".
Ms Gibson, who led the search, said a boat and helicopter had both been used to comb the area and efforts to trap the crocodile would continue.
Reporting from IRN.
Main image shows a saltwater crocodile in Western Australia. Image: Galaxiid / Alamy
