The youngster was last seen swimming with family on Tuesday near the isolated Aboriginal village of Nganmarriyanga, which is located in the Northern Territory (NT), some seven hours’ drive southwest of Darwin.
Senior Sgt. Erica Gibson stated, “This is devastating news for the family, the community, and everyone involved in the search,” and she promised that the police will help those who were affected.
A black crocodile had been spotted nearby, as Sgt. Gibson had earlier reported to the News.
Soon after the 12-year-old was reported missing, police officers received assistance from up to 40 community members in their search for the missing child.
They thoroughly investigated the region using helicopters, boats, and foot patrols. They encountered difficult terrain with dense foliage and a twisting, narrow river.
Whether the crocodile that was thought to have attacked the toddler had been located was not mentioned.
Earlier on Wednesday, NT Police Minister Brent Potter reaffirmed the government’s safety message and stated that wildlife police had been given permission to “remove” the crocodile from the region after it was found.
