Police believe they have discovered the 'gruesome' remains of a 12-year-old girl killed in the first fatal crocodile attack to rock the Northern Territory in six years.
The young girl was last seen swimming at Mango Creek, in the remote community of Nganmarriyanga, 360km south-west of Darwin, at about 5.30pm on Tuesday.
Northern Territory Police Senior Sergeant Erica Gibson on Thursday confirmed the 12-year-old's remains had been recovered after a 36-hour search.
'This morning, as a result of searching intensively overnight, the remains of the missing child were located in the riverway,' she told a press conference.
'It was particularly gruesome and a sad, devastating outcome. It was extremely difficult for the first responders involved in the search.
'As awful as the outcome is, it's been an incredible effort from the people involved. I certainly would commend the actions of everyone involved.
'They were diligent and work relentlessly. However, for the family, it's the most devastating outcome possible for them.'
'They are in a state of extreme shock and disbelief. It's not the outcome we were hoping for, but for the family at least there is some small element of closure.'
The girl was reported missing on Tuesday after the attack near the remote Northern Territory community of Palumpa. The girl had last been seen swimming at Mango Creek, about 350km south-west of Darwin, and was reported missing about 5.30pm on Tuesday.
Police confirmed on Thursday they had located remains at a riverbed after an extensive search.
The 12-year-old was last seen around dusk on Tuesday, swimming near the remote town of Nganmarriyanga - about a 7-hour drive south west of Darwin in the Northern Territory (NT).
A shirt belonging to a 12-year-old girl feared taken by a crocodile has been found.
Northern Territory police have found human remains belonging to a 12-year-old girl, who was reportedly taken by a crocodile in a remote creek.
The child disappeared on Tuesday afternoon during a swim in Mango Creek near the remote community of Palumpa, prompting an extensive search effort involving police, local families and members of NT Parks and Wildlife.
Witnesses told police they saw a black crocodile in the area.
NT Police Senior Sergeant Erica Gibson said police discovered the girl's T-shirt upstream about 6:15pm on Wednesday, and found her remains in the waterway on Thursday morning.
The young girl was last seen swimming at Mango Creek, in the remote Northern Territory community of Nganmarriyanga, 360km south-west of Darwin, and was reported missing at 5.30pm on Tuesday.
Police and members of NT Parks and Wildlife continued the search on Thursday.
Her shirt was found upstream of where she disappeared.
