12-year-old girl’s remains found from Palumpa after suspected crocodile attack

Police believe they have found the remains of a 12-year-old girl who was reportedly attacked by a crocodile in Palumpa and are working to identify them.

Police at Moyle River crossing between Peppimenarti and Palumpa. Picture: NT Police

July 4, 2.50pm: Police will work to formally identify human remains they believe belong to a 12-year-old girl who went missing in a Palumpa creek.

The girl – who had been swimming in Mango Creek with family – was first reported about 5.30pm Tuesday after a suspected croc attack.

Senior Sergeant Erica Gibson said police found remains in the waterway about 8am Thursday after an extensive search including a boat, helicopter, and foot pursuit.

The remains showed injuries consistent with a crocodile attack in what sergeant Gibson described as a particuarly gruesome and devastating outcome.

Police also discovered the girl’s shirt upstream about 6.15pm Wednesday.

Sergeant Gibson said the girl’s family was “absolutely devastated”.

“They are grieving, they are highly distressed, as is the whole community on a whole,” she said.

“Support in the form of counselling will be provided, but in the meantime the community is quite close and they will support each other through this tragedy.”

Sergeant Gibson said the investigation would continue while police worked to identify the remains through DNA and other avenues.

She did not confirm how long it would take to identify the remains, saying it was “dependent completely on circumstances”.

Sergeant Gibson said the “extensive search effort” to locate the child included combing the area via boat, helicopter, and foot.

“This is devastating news for the family, the community and everyone involved in the search,” she said.

“We had members from Search and Rescue, from TRG, and uniformed members from Peppimenarti, Daly River, and Wadeye.

“We also had the assistance of community members who worked long and hard while this tragic event was occurring.”

The last time someone was killed by a crocodile in the Territory was in 2018 when a Yirrkala ranger died while in Gangan community, 200km south-west of Nhulunbuy.

An 11-year-old girl was believed to have been taken by a crocodile in rural Darwin almost ten years prior in 2009, when police pulled her remains from Lambells Lagoon after a 12 hour search.

Remains found in search for girl reportedly attacked by croc

July 4, 12pm: Police believe they have found the remains of a missing 12-year-old girl after almost two days of searching for her.

The girl had been swimming in Mango Creek in Palumpa when she disappeared about 5.30pm, Tuesday.

Senior Sergeant Erica Gibson said the girl had reportedly been attacked by a crocodile.

Sergeant Gibson said police mounted an “extensive search effort” to locate the child, including searches via boat, helicopter, and foot.

“This is devastating news for the family, the community and everyone involved in the search,” she said.

“Police are providing support to the family and community, along with the first responders who attended the scene.”

The last time someone was killed by a crocodile in the Territory was in 2018 when a Yirrkala ranger died while in Gangan community, 200km south-west of Nhulunbuy.

An 11-year-old girl was believed to have been taken by a crocodile in rural Darwin almost ten years prior in 2009, when police pulled her remains from Lambells Lagoon after a 12 hour search.

‘Extremely distressed’: Police continue search for missing girl feared taken by croc

July 4, 7.30am: A 12-year-old girl is still missing more than 36 hours after she was last seen swimming in Mango Creek, Palumpa.

The child was reported missing about 5.30pm Tuesday and initial reports suggested she had been attacked by a crocodile.

Senior Sergeant Erica Gibson on Thursday morning told ABC Radio Darwin the girl had been with family when the incident occurred.

“The child disappeared and they notified other family who were able to notify and contact police,” she said.

“It is just simply a really tragic event not only for the family but for all responding frontline police officers who were there assisting the family.”

Sergeant Gibson said the community was “extremely distressed”.

She said the Search and Rescue team had deployed a boat and helicopter to comb through the area.

Sergeant Gibson said community members were also helping police conduct a search on foot.

She said evidence of crocs had been spotted in the area and police were working with the crocodile management team to safely continue their search.

“Throughout the night, croc-spotting occurred with the croc management team,” she told the ABC.

“No crocodiles were sighted or located in the immediate area that croc-searching has occurred since sunset yesterday – there were no sightings overnight.”

Police Minister Brent Potter previously said the Search and Rescue team had been authorised to remove the crocodile from the area.

‘Recovery stage’ begins in search for missing girl after possible croc attack

July 3, 4.30pm: The search for a missing 12-year-old girl who might have been attacked by a crocodile has shifted from the search to recovery stage.

The child was reported missing about 5.30pm on Tuesday and was last seen swimming at Mango Creek in the remote community of Palumpa.

Initial reports stated the child had been attacked by a crocodile.

Police Minister Brent Potter said the Search and Rescue team was still looking for the girl more than 18 hours after she was reported missing.

Mr Potter said he understood the team had been authorised to “remove the crocodile from the area” in order to safely continue their search.

“They do an amazing piece of work, those officers are also divers and they do go into croc-infested waters as required,” he said.

“It’s probably safe to say we’re in the recovery stage.”

Mr Potter said Daly MLA Dheran Young was on his way to Palumpa to offer support to the community.

Location of the search of a child who went missing near Palumpa.

Community members and Peppimenarti Police are carrying out investigations, but have yet to find the child.

A search and rescue team, including officers from Wadeye, was deployed into the area to help with the search.

Senior Sergeant Erica Gibson said local officers were on scene.

“Our thoughts are with the family and the community,” she said.

“Officers are currently searching a large section of the creek via boat and we thank the community for their ongoing assistance.”

Palumpa is located about 350km south-west of Darwin and is between the communities of Peppimenarti and Wadeye.

Originally published as 12-year-old girl’s remains found from Palumpa after suspected crocodile attack