A determined search is beneath manner in northern Australia for a boy feared to have been taken by a crocodile.
The 12-year-old was final seen round nightfall on Tuesday, swimming close to the distant city of Palumpa – a few 7-hour drive south west of Darwin within the Northern Territory (NT).
Police say a specialist search and rescue staff has been deployed after “preliminary reviews said the kid had been attacked by a crocodile”.
The NT is dwelling to an estimated 100,000 saltwater crocodiles, greater than anyplace else on the planet, however assaults are unusual.
Members of the neighborhood in Palumpa – dwelling to solely 364 folks – and native police started looking for the kid instantly after he vanished in Mango Creek round 17:30 native time (08:00 GMT).
They’ve now been joined by extra officers and the professional search and rescue staff who’re combing each land and water for indicators of the boy.
An aerial search may be launched, in response to native media.
“Officers are at the moment looking out a big part of the creek through boat and we thank [the] neighborhood for his or her ongoing help,” Senior Sergeant Erica Gibson stated in a press release.
“Native officers are on scene and our ideas are with the household and the neighborhood.”
