CANBERRA, Jan. 20 (Xinhua) -- An Australian man has been killed by a giant 3.5 meter-long crocodile in Australia's Northern Territory (NT) overnight, after attempting to cross a "notorious" patch of river near the Kakadu National Park.
The man, 47, along with two female companions, was trying to cross a section of the East Alligator River at Cahill's Crossing at about 4:00 p.m. on Thursday afternoon, when the crocodile attacked and killed the man.
A spokesperson for NT Police said the man's body was recovered some four hours later, about 2 km downstream.
"Just after 8:20 p.m. police located the body 2 km downstream. A crocodile was present with the body," the spokesperson told the Nine Network.
"The crocodile was shot on scene and the body was recovered. The body has since been taken (away)."
The spokesperson said the area near Cahill's Crossing is infested with large crocodiles, and the police are constantly warning members of the public and tourists not to attempt to cross the low-lying passage unless they are in a suitable vehicle.
"(The area is) notorious for flooding and we are constantly sending out messages to tell people not to enter," they said.
Meanwhile, Northern Territory Police Duty Superintendent Bob Harrison said the actions of the man were "foolish," as the crossing is a hotbed for the giant reptiles.
"Cahill's Crossing is notorious for crocodiles and to walk across it to me is just foolishness," Harrison told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) on Friday.
"You are tempting fate, knowing the size of the crocodiles in that area."
