Police: Crocodile killed missing Australian boy, evidence suggests

JABIRU, AUSTRALIA (BNO NEWS) -- A young boy who went missing late last week while swimming with a group of friends in a remote pond in northern Australia is believed to have been killed by a crocodile, emergency services said on Tuesday after recovering unspecified evidence.

The 12-year-old boy went missing at approximately 2:15 p.m. local time on Sunday while swimming with four other young boys in Mudginberri Billabong, an isolated pond in Kakadu National Park, approximately 20 kilometers (12.4 miles) west of Jabiru, a town in the northern part of Northern Territory.

Ground, boat and air searches continued on Tuesday morning, when police recovered unspecified evidence that confirmed their worst fears. "Search teams have now located evidence within the search area which strongly indicates the boy has died from the crocodile attack," said Acting Commander Michael White of Northern Territory Police, Fire and Emergency Services.

White added: "Further DNA testing will be conducted to confirm the identification. No specifics will be given in relation to the trauma or type of evidence located out of respect for the family. This is now an investigation for the Northern Territory Coroner and a brief will be prepared."

Another 12-year-old boy was bitten by the crocodile but managed to fight it off, after which the reptile grabbed the other boy and swam off with him. Based on the injured boy's bite marks, experts believe a saltwater crocodile measuring between 2 and 2.5 meters (between 6.5 and 8.2 feet) was responsible for Sunday's attack.

In late August, a 26-year-old man was killed by a large saltwater crocodile while swimming in the Mary River near a camping ground in Australia's Northern Territory. The man, who was celebrating a birthday party, was swimming in a river that is known for having the world's largest population of saltwater crocodiles.

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