[ad_1]
updated
The Northern Territory police found the body of an Aboriginal forest ranger after being taken away by a "problem crocodile" while she was fishing with her family on Friday.
The attack occurred at approximately 10:30 am in the isolated suburb of Gangan, east of Arnhem, 177 kilometers southwest of Nhulunbuy.
NT police commander Tony Fuller said the woman was collecting mussels in a billabong with her family.
"She was with the band … and the group noticed it missing," he said.
"They heard splashes … [and] the bucket she was carrying was found nearby. "
Officers from Lake Evella and Nhulunbuy worked with local rangers and the community to search for women in nearby waterways on Friday afternoon.
His body and crocodile were found shortly before 5 pm, less than one kilometer from the scene.
The crocodile was destroyed by local indigenous rangers and the body of the woman was found.
A close friend of the woman, who asked to remain anonymous, said that the rank of crocodile was considered by the rangers as a "problem" that had challenged "many" attempts at capture.
They said the victim would miss for her bold personality and sense of humor, and remember her as a hard worker admired by the communities of Yolngu and Balanda.
Commander Fuller stated that the woman was immersed in the water up to the time of the attack and that she was working or not at the time, would be part of the investigations of the police.
The Laynhapuy Homelands Aboriginal Corporation, which runs the Yirralka Rangers program, first reported the attack to the authorities and has since closed its office.
NT WorkSafe confirmed that it was investigating this incident.
"NT WorkSafe has been informed that a crocodile has caught an indigenous ranger about 206 km southwest of Yirrkala," he said in a statement.
"NT WorkSafe opened an investigation into this incident."
Topics:
human interest,
animal attacks,
NT
Darwin-0800
First posted
