NZ diver raises alarm after crocodile kills mate

DARWIN - A diver was killed by a crocodile yesterday in the second fatal attack in Australia's Northern Territory in less than a week.

The body of the 56-year-old man was found close to where he disappeared while diving in a remote waters off Cobourg Peninsula, 200km north-east of Darwin.

The man's distraught diving companion, a 41-year-old New Zealand man, raised the alarm by satellite phone about 11.30am today.

He marked the exact location with an emergency beacon as he scrambled to get out of the water after spotting a large crocodile.

Police acting Superintendent Dean McMaster said the body of the dead man, who was from Darwin, might never have been recovered but for the rapid actions of his companion.

"His actions and quick thinking have made the search so much easier," he said.

The pair were diving together in Trepang Bay, about 15 nautical miles east of Cape Don.

"Obviously this person would be very distressed," acting Supt McMaster said.

"He was diving as a diving companion when his mate went missing. That must have been a very stressful time.

"He's managed to get out of the water into a boat, where he's placed an emergency locating beacon (in the location) and called police on a satellite phone."

It took authorities several hours to reach the area, and the man's body was found at 4.30pm.

Police said he had injuries consistent with a crocodile attack, but the cause of death would be confirmed by a post-mortem examination.

Police would offer counselling to the man, and officers involved in the search, before taking his official statement, he said.

"Our main concern has been finding the body of the victim and following up with the next of kin," acting Supt McMaster said.

The man's family in Darwin had been told of his death and his body would be returned there tonight, he said.

The incident comes just five days after British snorkeller Russell Harris, 37, was killed by a 4m saltwater crocodile while swimming off Groote Eylandt in the Northern Territory (NT).

Authorities were still hunting that crocodile, after a search last night failed to find any crocodiles fitting the description of the reptile that mauled Mr Harris.

Mr Harris' death sparked renewed debate about whether limited safari hunting of some of the NT's dangerous crocodiles should be allowed.

The federal government is expected to soon make a decision on the NT government proposal, for trophy hunting of 25 crocodiles a year.

Crocodile numbers have exploded since the reptile was declared a protected animal and hunting was banned 33 years ago.

Acting Supt McMaster said it was not known if authorities would hunt the crocodile believed responsible for today's attack.

"It's a remote area," he said. "There are a large number of crocodiles along the coastline in that area. It would be hard to pin the attack down to any specific crocodile."

But he warned people should not go into NT waterways, home to an estimated 75,000 saltwater crocodiles.

"It's been well-documented, the dangers of swimming or entering the water in the NT," acting Supt McMaster said.

"People that visit are made aware of the dangers of crocodiles. That is an ever present danger."

- AAP