A teenager has died after a suspected crocodile attack off an island in the Torres Strait, police have confirmed.<\/p>\n
Thursday Island water police launched a search and rescue operation near Saibai Island after receiving reports at about 4am on Thursday that a 16-year-old boy was missing.<\/p>\n
The teenager, and a 13-year-old boy, reportedly attempted to swim back to shore from a broken down dinghy, Queensland police said.<\/p>\n
On Thursday night a spokesperson confirmed that they had discovered the body of the older boy.<\/p>\n
They have since confirmed that he had injuries \u201cconsistent with a crocodile attack\u201d.<\/p>\n
The formal identification process has begun to confirm the identity of the body, and further testing is under way to confirm the cause of death.<\/p>\n
A spokesperson for Queensland\u2019s Department of Environment, Science and Innovation said wildlife officers will now survey the waters off Saibai Island in order to attempt to locate the crocodile involved.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe local community has requested the animal involved in the incident be removed from the wild,\u201d the department spokesperson said.<\/p>\n
The crocodile suspected to be involved in the attack is estimated to be about 3.5 metres in length.<\/p>\n
The younger boy made it to safety.<\/p>\n