NT: Search for killer croc and victim stalled by weather

AAP General News (Australia)
12-24-2003
NT: Search for killer croc and victim stalled by weather

DARWIN, Dec 24 AAP - Bad weather today again halted the search for a killer crocodile
and the body of its victim in a Northern Territory river.

The crocodile on Sunday killed Brett Mann, 22, who had been on a quad bike ride with
two friends at the Finniss River, 80km south-west of Darwin.

The four-metre reptile then stalked his companions, Shaun Blowers and Ashley McGough,
both 19, as they huddled together in a tree for 22 hours.

The pair were eventually winched to safety by a helicopter at 3pm (CST) on Monday.

Yesterday driving rain and low cloud forced police to call off their search of the
river for the remains of Mr Mann, a diesel mechanic from Darwin, and for the crocodile.

A Darwin police spokesman said the search remained suspended due to bad weather early
today, but may resume later in the day if conditions improved.

Mr Blowers yesterday said Mr Mann was attacked after losing his footing on a sandy
bank and being swept into the swollen river.

Mr Blowers and Mr McGough jumped in to try to help him, but then the crocodile appeared.

"I didn't see it, Ashley (did and) screamed out `croc, croc'... we just swam to the
nearest tree and straight up we went," Mr Blowers said.

"We were looking around for Brett (but) didn't hear a thing, didn't hear a scream,
no splashing or anything.

"Two minutes later the croc brought Brett to the surface and pretty much showed him
off to us and off he swam.

"Five minutes later he was back stalking the tree around us, he just hung around us
all night and pretty much all the next morning."

AAP scl/sl/sp

KEYWORD: CROCODILE DAYLEAD

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