CROC EATS BRIT DIVER; HORROR OF ATTACK BY 12FT BEAST IN OZ.Byline: By Frank Thorne A BRITISH mining engineer has been killed by a saltwater crocodile The Saltwater or Estuarine Crocodile (Crocodylus porosus) is the largest of all living reptiles. It is found in suitable habitat throughout Southeast Asia and northern Australia. Saltwater crocodiles are known in the Northern Territory of Australia as 'salties'. as he snorkelled off a remote Australian island. Russell Harris, 37, was swimming with a friend on Groote Eylandt Groote Eylandt (gr  t ī`lənd) [Du.,=large island], 950 sq mi (2,461 sq km), Northern Territory, N Australia. in
the Northern Territory when he was snatched by the croc.
The two men had become separated and when the Briton failed to return two hours later, the alarm was raised. Aboriginal people from the nearby Umbakumba community joined police in a search. Mr Harris's body was found a day later in a nearby creek where a 12ft crocodile had been sighted. Acting senior sergeant Steve Pfitzner, of Alyangula police, said: "We strongly suspect the man was a victim of a crocodile attack Crocodile attacks of people are not uncommon in places where crocodiles are native. Out of all wild predators who attack humans for food, the Saltwater and Nile Crocodiles are the most prolific and dangerous. . "There were a number of marks on the body and there was a crocodile found very close to the vicinity"His mate didn't witness the attack and police were not expecting to find a croc attack victim. "We are advising people on Groote Eylandt to be careful when entering the water." Mr Harris's American wife was relaxing on the beach with the other man's wife, unaware that the attack had happened. Mr Harris, a technical services superintendent from the Gemco manganese mine, had been on the island for five months. Groote Eylandt is Aboriginal territory and anyone other than mine workers needs a permit to visit. Mr Harris, who was born in Cotgrave, Nottinghamshire, had no children. His body was flown to the Northern Territory capital of Darwin yesterday for a post-mortem. His employers, the Anglo- Australian mining and steel company BHP Billiton BHP Billiton is the world's largest mining company.[1] Its origin is in the 2001 merger of Australia's Broken Hill Proprietary Company (BHP) and the UK's Billiton, which has a South African background. The result is a dual-listed company. , also flew Mr Harris's wife to Darwin and arranged for his parents to be flown from their home in Eastwood, Nottingham. A spokesman said: "Our priority is to providesupport to the family." Large saltwater crocs are not unknown in the area and the number of attacks has increased in recent years. Last month, a fisherman was killed when a crocodile pulled him from his canoe at Lakefield National Park Lakefield is a National Park in Queensland (Australia), 1,707 km northwest of Brisbane. It is the second largest park in Queensland and a favourite place for fishing and camping. It can be accessed by road either through Cooktown or Laura. in Cape York, Queensland CAPTION(S): DEADLY: A saltwater crocodile like the one that killed Russell Harris; POST-MORTEM: The body at Darwin airport |
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