CROC HORROR
Girl, 12, snatched in horror croc attack while swimming in creek as police launch hunt for beast
The girl was last seen swimming in a creek before she was snatched
A CHILD snatched by a crocodile while swimming in a creek is still missing with police and search and rescue teams scouring the area.
The 12-year-old girl was last seen swimming in a croc-infested waterway near a remote town in Australia.
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Local authorities say a specialist search and rescue team has been deployed to Nganmarriyanga in the Northern Territory (NT) after initial reports stated the girl had been attacked by a croc.
Community members and local police began searching for the child immediately after she vanished in Mango Creek.
They have now been joined by additional officers and the expert search and rescue team who are combing over land and water.
NT Police Minister Brent Potter said on Wednesday afternoon the operation had entered the "recovery phase".
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He said: "It's a tragic incident for any parent or family member to lose a young child, and especially in the circumstances like that, taken by a crocodile."
Mr Potter said the team was also authorised to "remove the crocodile from the area" to safely continue the search.
NT Police Senior Sergeant Erica Gibson added: "Officers are currently searching a large section of the creek via boat and we thank the community for their ongoing assistance."
The Northern Territory is home to an estimated 100,000 saltwater crocodiles.
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Saltwater crocodiles are larger and more dangerous and aggressive to humans and can grow up to 6 metres in length. Freshwater crocodiles can reach up to 3 metres in length and have been known to attack people.
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According to the Northern Territory's tourism website, crocodiles have a taste for fish but will "eat just about anything".
A warning on the website reads: "Don’t attempt to feed any wild crocodiles during your stay, and don’t swim in any waterway or camp, fish or walk in any area where crocodile hazard signs are posted.
"The best way to avoid getting hurt is to avoid crocodiles in the wild altogether."
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Nganmarriyanga, formerly known as Palumpa, is a remote Aboriginal community in the Daly River region of the Northern Territory.
It is situated about 360km south-west of Darwin between the communities of Peppimenarti and Wadeye.
The unfortunate incident is not the first in the area.
A female keeper was mauled by a 16ft crocodile at a reptile park tourist attraction last year.
The 34-year-old was taken to hospital after she was attacked while working at Crocosaurus Cove in Darwin.
A tourist said he overheard staff discussing the attack and "apparently there was a lot of blood".
The former staff member said it was the first time the massive croc had attacked an employee.
Meanwhile in Queensland, a camper was dragged from his tent by a monstrous 14-ft crocodile in 2004.
Andrew Kerr was mauled and badly injured before he was dramatically rescued by grandmother Alicia Sorohan who punched the predator in the head.
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Distressing footage also shows a tourist repeatedly punching a crocodile in a desperate attempt to save his dog.
Bleeding heavily and clutching his wounded leg, Alistair MacPhee had no choice but to back away from the water's edge and leave his pet Rottweiler in the jaws of the crocodile.
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