Police find body in search for 16-year-old off Saibai Island, Torres Strait

A teenager who went missing at sea was tragically killed by a crocodile in waist-deep water and was believed to be just moments from reaching shore when the animal attacked.

A teenager who went missing at sea is believed to have been killed by a crocodile in waist-deep water, and was just moments from reaching the shore of Saibai Island when the predator attacked.

The 16-year-old was reported missing after a dinghy he was in with another boy, 13, ran into engine trouble in the Torres Strait at 4am Thursday morning.

The 13-year-old made it to shore while the older boy did not, prompting a search-and-rescue operation that included a helicopter from Thursday Island.

Senior Sergeant Greg Giles said a body that had injuries consistent with a crocodile attack was found in the mangroves of Sabai Island about 4pm Thursday afternoon.

Aerial view of Sabai Island.

“It is understood two teenagers tried to swim ashore after the dinghy they were in had broken down,” he said.

“They were 500m from shore, they’d swum in a certain distance and when the boy went missing when they were in waist-deep water.

“The 13-year-old had made it back to shore, alerted his family who then contacted water police in Thursday Island.”

Both boys are locals to Saibai Island and had embarked from the island when they took out the dinghy.

Sergeant Giles said the 13-year-old did not see the crocodile.

“He’s pretty shaken up, as you could imagine,” he said.

Department of Environment, Science and Innovation program co-ordinator Simon Booth said wildlife officers were working to locate and remove the crocodile, which is believed to be 3.5m long.

File photo of a saltwater crocodile. Picture: David Caird

“The injuries sustained are consistent with a large crocodile in the vicinity of 3.5m metres in size, possibly slightly larger,” he said.

“We do have resources on the island that are working with Queensland Police to identify an animal that may have been responsible.

“The community has indicated that they would like the crocodile removed from the wild and that’s consistent with the Queensland Government crocodile management plan following an attack on a person.”

Wildlife officers will survey the waters off Saibai Island by helicopter on Friday afternoon in an attempt to locate the crocodile involved.

Senior Sergeant Greg Giles.

Sergeant Giles said sea conditions were rough and windy at the time the boys were out on the boat, which started taking on water after the engine would not restart.

Further investigations and a formal identification process is underway to confirm the identity of the body and cause of death.

Earlier on Thursday, Acting Patrol Group Inspector Anthony Moynihan said the 13-year-old had been checked by paramedics and was back with his family.

It’s understood the pair are cousins.

Eight water vessels and a Rescue 700 helicopter were involved in the search for the 16-year-old.

“Water Police from Thursday Island are coming out in our major vessel with about five crew. We’ve also got general staff from Saibai Island already on scene in the helicopter,” Insp Moynihan said earlier on Thursday.

Police discovered the body at Saibai Island on Thursday afternoon.

“We’ve got three or four major areas we’re searching at the moment including sea and land. At the moment we’re focusing on Saibai.”

The Australian Maritime Safety Authority and Papua New Guinean authorities had not been requested to assist in the search.

Insp Moynihan said the wet weather was helping operations.

“The rain’s been helping our boat get there quicker due to a tailwind so it’s moving quickly,” he said.

Saibai Island is 900km north of Cairns and is one of the outermost islands on the Torres Strait.
It is 4km south of Papua New Guinea.

Originally published as Police find body in search for 16-year-old off Saibai Island, Torres Strait