Tragedy as missing boy killed by crocodile

The body of a 16-year-old boy has been found after he was attacked by a crocodile while trying to swim to shore in north Queensland.

The body of the teenager has been found off Saibai Island, with his injuries “consistent with a crocodile attack”. Picture: istock

A 16-year-old boy has died from a suspected crocodile attack in The Torres Strait after he and a friend tried to swim ashore when their boat broke down.

Queensland Police said the body of the teenager was found on Thursday off Saibai Island and that his injuries were “consistent with a crocodile attack”.

Police had launched a search on Thursday after reports of two teenagers who tried to swim to shore from their broken-down dinghy.

The dead teenager’s friend, a 13-year-old boy, was able to swim back to shore.

The surrounding waters of Saibai Island will be surveyed by wildlife officers by helicopter this afternoon to locate the crocodile involved.

Senior Sergeant Greg Giles said the boat had broken down 500 metres from the coastline.

“The younger boy, who was 13, made it back to the shore and a search was commenced for the older boy,” he said.

“There were several boats that were used in the search as well as a rescue helicopter from Thursday Island. Locals were out on their boats as well searching the area where the boy went missing.

“A foot search was conducted along the shoreline of Saibai island where they located the body.

“Police are still investigating to confirm the identity of that boy. We are working with officers from the Department of Environment and Science.

“Investigations are ongoing and the matter will be reported to the coroner.”

Sergeant Giles said the reason the two teenagers were in the Torres Strait is unclear.

“We understand the boat they were in had engine trouble, then started taking on water,” he said.

“It was quite rough at the time around that area, so the boat was taking on water and because they couldn’t start the engine they decided to swim back.

“It was very rough and windy. We tried to get the rescue helicopter up that morning but the conditions weren’t favourable for the helicopter. It died down in the afternoon but at that time in the morning was very rough.”

Sergeant Giles said the body was located at 4 pm on Thursday.

DESI program coordinator Simon Booth said Saibai Island is known to be within crocodile habitat in Queensland.

“We do get sighting reports on the Torres Strait, as we do across the state within crocodile habitat ... we do get sightings from time to time as crocodiles move around the islands in the era of the Torres Strait,” Mr Booth said.

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

Mr Booth said the local community have indicated they would like the crocodile removed from the wild.

“That is consistent with the Queensland Government crocodile management plan following an attack on a person,” Mr Booth said.

There have been 45 confirmed crocodile attacks in Queensland since the 1980s and 13 fatalities.