SEARCH CALLED OFF FOR CROCODILE DUE TO THE NUMBERS PRESENT AT THE SCENE

Last Update: Friday, September 30, 2005. 8:11pm (AEST)

Rangers say they do not expect to find a crocodile that killed a diver off the NT coast. (ABC TV)

Killer croc will never be found, ranger says
A Northern Territory park ranger involved in the search for a crocodile that killed a diver on the Coburg Peninsula north of Darwin believes the culprit will never be found.

The search for the four-metre saltwater crocodile has been called off.

Park ranger Peter Fitzgerald was one of five people who searched for Russell Butel when the commercial diver went missing in Trepang Bay, 150 kilometres north-east of Darwin, at midday yesterday.

Searchers followed the coordinates of an EPIRB tracking device left by Mr Butel's dive partner.

They found Mr Butel's body two kilometres away just off a beach early yesterday afternoon.

Mr Fitzgerald says finding the crocodile is nigh-on impossible.

"There are that many crocodiles up there, it's just disappeared into the rest of the population," he said.

Mr Fitzgerald says all commercial divers in the Top End are aware of the dangers.

"They're taking a very grave risk as far as any water-based activity, it's just not on," he said.

He says Mr Butel's diving partner was traumatised by the attack and has returned to Darwin.

He will make a statement to police before flying home to New Zealand.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200509/s1472280.htm