Woman missing after crocodile attack in northeast Australia

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By BNO NEWS

A woman who was walking on a beach in Australia’s northeast has gone missing after she was attacked by a crocodile and pulled into the ocean, local officials say. Her friend suffered minor injuries.

The women – who are both in their 40s – were attacked at 10:30 p.m. on Sunday when they were walking in shallow waters at Thornton Beach in northern Queensland, which is some 1,480 kilometers (920 miles) northwest of Brisbane.

Paramedics and police were called to the scene a short time later and found one of the women suffering from shock and a minor graze. The second woman was reported missing, after which a search and rescue operation got underway.

“We were called to Thornton Beach late last evening for a report of a female that was walking in the water with another lady, and it’s been alleged that a crocodile had come and grabbed one of the ladies and pulled her into the ocean,” said Neil Noble of the Queensland Ambulance Service.

The injured woman was taken to Mossman Hospital in stable condition, but she was “extremely traumatized” by the attack, according to Noble. The search for the missing woman – who has not yet been named – was continuing on early Monday.

Crocodile attacks occur daily in parts of Africa, Asia and South America, but they are more rare in countries such as Australia. The most recent one happened in March when a 25-year-old woman was attacked by a crocodile during a feeding show at a sanctuary in Queensland, causing a significant hand injury.

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