Queensland -
A tourist is feared to have been killed by a crocodile after going for a late-night swim at an Australian beach - despite signs warning of the danger.
Cindy Waldron, 46, had been stood in waist-deep water with friend Leeann Mitchell when she shouted: “A croc’s got me!” Miss Mitchell, 47, tried to free her but Miss Waldron, who is from New Zealand, was dragged into the sea.
An overnight search at Thornton Beach, in Daintree, Queensland, failed to find any trace of Miss Waldron, who lived in New South Wales.
The incident on Sunday has sparked a debate about tourism in northern Queensland where saltwater crocodiles - that grow up to 16ft - are a threat.
The area has large signs warning of crocodiles, and locals say a large male is thought to patrol the beach.
Senior Constable Russell Parker told ABC radio: “Her 47-year-old friend tried to grab her and drag her to safety and she just wasn’t able to do that. They had been walking along the beach and they’ve decided to go for a swim... [it was] probably a very nice, clear night, but obviously [they] may not have been aware of the dangers.”
Miss Mitchell is said to be extremely traumatised.
A woman from Thornton Beach said there was a “massive croc” which is seen regularly in the area.
“There’s a resident croc there, it’s massive, we used to see it, it was dark and you used to see it eating turtles and such like,” she said.
“There’d be blood in the water.
“I would swim in the water there during the day if it was clear but I wouldn’t even go on the beach at night let alone in the water. It’s a horrible way to go, brutal, there are signs everywhere and I don’t know what happened here but people don’t take any notice of them.”
Dean Adermann, from Queensland Crocodile Conservation and Protection Society, said: “It would be absolutely crazy swimming along those beaches.”
Daily Mail