A 16-year-old Australian boy has died after being attacked by a large crocodile in the Torres Strait, authorities said.
The incident occurred Thursday morning off the coast of Saibai Island, a relatively remote island with a population of about 500 people. Saibai Island is geographically close to Papua New Guinea, but is part of the Australian state of Queensland, approximately 900 miles north of the city of Cairns.
The Brisbane Times said the victim had been swimming with a 13-year-old boy before he was killed. They were using a dinghy, but its engine suddenly stopped working properly, and the teens decided to bravely swim across the water to shore.
Queensland Police Far North District Senior Sergeant Greg Giles told reporters the 16-year-old boy went missing after the boys went into waist-deep water. The boat breakdown occurred about 300 meters from land.
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Boats anchored in the port of Saibai Island in the Torres Strait. (Fairfax Media via Getty Images)
“Unfortunately, the body of the older boy was located in a mangrove forest,” Giles explained. “We are working with the coroner to try to identify that person.”
A police spokesperson said the 13-year-old boy had not seen the alligator until the 16-year-old went missing.
“As you can imagine, he’s pretty shaken up,” Giles said, according to the Brisbane Times.
“He was in close proximity to the other boy when he went missing, so no doubt that affected him.”
A Queensland Police wildlife officer confirmed the victim’s injuries were the result of a crocodile attack. Authorities believe the reptile that killed the boy was about 4 yards long.
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Panoramic view of Saibai Island, Saibai Island, Australia, March 26, 2021. (Brooke Mitchell/Getty Images)
Detective Constable Simon Booth said: “The injuries sustained are consistent with a large crocodile around 3.5 meters long, and probably slightly larger.”
Local residents called on authorities to search for the crocodile that killed the boy.
A statement from the Department of Environment, Science and Innovation, obtained by the Brisbane Times, said: “Wildlife officers will be surveying the waters off Saibai Island by helicopter this afternoon to locate the crocodile involved. ” is written.
“The local community demanded that the animals involved be removed from the wild.”[DESI] My condolences go out to the family and friends of a teenage boy who died off the coast of Saibai Island. ”
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Panoramic view of Saibai Island, Saibai Island, Australia, March 26, 2021. (Brooke Mitchell/Getty Images)
Fox News Digital contacted Queensland Police for comment but did not immediately receive a response.
