NORTHERN TERRITORY, Australia (28 Sep 2005) -- BRIT Russell Harris was eaten by a 13ft crocodile as his wife relaxed on a beach nearby, unaware of the horror. The 37-year-old mine worker was snorkelling with a pal off a remote Australian island when he was snatched by the croc and dragged under the water. The attack was so swift, neither his 33-year-old friend nor his American wife, who was sitting just 100 yards away, realised what had happened. They launched a search when he hadn't shown up on the shore two hours later. A police spotter plane, boats and Aboriginal trackers scoured a 60-mile stretch of coastline. His remains were found 18 hours later at the mouth of Eight Mile Creek – about a mile from where he was attacked off Groote Eylandt, on Australia's northern coast. Police sergeant Steve Pfitzner said: "We strongly suspect the man was a victim of a crocodile attack. There were a number of marks on the body and there was a crocodile found very close by. It's a popular tourist spot. We are advising everyone to be careful." | | Russell, of Eastwood, Notts, moved Down Under five months ago to work as a manganese mine superintendent for Gemco, part of Brit group BHP Billiton. A spokeswoman for the company said: "Our priority at the moment is to offer support to the family and also our employees." SOURCE - ABC |
