THE family of Sean Cole was last night coming to terms with the apparent death of the IT technician after witnesses reported seeing him attacked by a 5m saltwater crocodile at a Northern Territory river on Saturday.
Police said up to 15 people attending a 30th birthday celebration had seen the incident, which happened at Mary River, about halfway between Darwin and Kakadu National Park, after two of the partying group decided to take a dip in the crocodile-infested waters.
Nine Network news last night named the man as the 24-year-old Mr Cole of Darwin, who originally hailed from Katherine. His Facebook page indicated he liked football and spending time outdoors with his friends.
Senior Sergeant Geoff Bahnert last night said officers held "the gravest of fears" for Mr Cole.
"The Mary River is known worldwide to have the greatest saturation of adult saltwater crocodiles in the world. You don't swim in the Mary River," Sergeant Bahnert said. "It's 20 hours since he's been missing and he hasn't been located yet."
He said alcohol may have played a part in the men's decision to take a dip.
Police and the NT Crocodile Management Team arrived at the lodge and caravan park where the party had been held before last light on Saturday, and an officer shot one of the largest crocs found in the area. It's not yet known whether it was the attacking crocodile, and yesterday others in the Mary River were shot.
NT Deputy Chief Minister Dave Tollner ruled out culling crocodiles after attacks.
An employee of the Mary River Wilderness Retreat, Erin Bayard, said the man and a friend had ignored warnings not to go in the water.
"Two local boys decided to go swimming. We tell people to stay away from the water, they obviously went against that," she said.
It is understood Mr Cole's parents and sister drove to the site from Katherine to be briefed by police yesterday.