Crocodile attack: Boy taken by saltwater croc while swimming in Northern Territory billabong

Updated

Northern Territory police have spent the night searching for a missing 12-year-old boy attacked by a saltwater crocodile in the Kakadu National Park.

Police and park rangers have found no signs of the boy, who was swimming with friends in the Mudginberri billabong, near Jabiru, on Sunday.

Another 12-year-old was bitten on the arm in the attack.

He fought the animal off and survived and has been treated for cuts to his arms.

"It is believed the 12-year-old boy was taken by a crocodile as he and a number of other young boys were swimming," Acting Commander Michael White said.

"One other boy, also aged 12, was bitten on the arm by the crocodile and has received medical treatment from attending St John Ambulance members."

A search is being conducted in Magela Creek, which delivers water to the billabong.

Police say they have been up in helicopters and out in boats since early Sunday afternoon, when they were told the group of boys had been attacked.

Police have also spoken to four of the boys who witnessed the attack.

Tactical response police are joining the search today.

Jabiru is located 200 kilometres east of Darwin.

A teenager fought off a five-metre saltwater crocodile in the same area about a year ago.

After that incident, people were warned not to swim there, but there have not been many attacks in the past few months.

It is the wet season in Kakadu, the most dangerous time of year to be swimming in waterholes and creeks.

Map: Crocodile attack near Jabiru

Topics: animals-and-nature, animal-attacks, crocodile, jabiru-0886, nt, australia

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