Crocodile Devours Boy Of 12, Second Fatal Attack In Australia In Two Weeks

A 12-year-old boy was killed after a crocodile swam off with the child in its mouth today.

It’s the second, fatal attack Australia’s Northern Territory in the last two weeks.

Police and animal rangers vowed to continue the search for the youngster on Sunday, but hope is fading that the boy is still alive.

Less than two weeks ago, a second fatality occurred when a seven-year-old girl was killed by a saltwater crocodile 210 miles east of Darwin.

Shortly afterwards, a reptile was shot in the area where the girl went missing.

When it was opened up, investigators found what they believed to be the human remains of a child inside.

The 12-year-old boy in today’s tragedy is believed to be from an Aboriginal outpost near Port Bradshaw, 400 miles east of Darwin.

The killing occurred when the boy swam with a group of people in a lagoon.

‘Inital reports suggest adults within the group tried to save the boy by spearing the animal, but the crocodile dragged the child out to deeper water,’ police Superintendent Michael White said.

The Superintendent also said the tragedy highlighted the dangers of waterway swimming.

Saltwater crocodiles can grow up to 25 feet and are abundant in the Northern Territory. Despite signs warning visitors and residents to stay away from the waterways and river banks, fatalities are still occurring.

For the purposes of preservation, crocodiles are protected in the Northern Territory. As a result, their numbers are increasing.

One man wrote to the Northern Territory News, said:

“This has got to stop – there are too many crocs. Of course we need to use common sense when in the bush, but please let’s have a sensible policy on the crocodile population.”