A backpacker from Northern Ireland has drowned in a lake in Kakadu national park in Australia’s Northern Territory.
A police spokeswoman told The Irish Times the 27-year-old man went for a swim at the Malanbanjbanjdju Billabong, 30 kilometres from the tourist town of Jabiru, at sunset (around 7pm) on Saturday night and did not resurface.
The man, who is not being named until his next of kin has been contacted, was travelling with a group of 20 backpackers from Ireland and Britain.
The billabong is about 200 metres by 50 metres and is said to be dangerous due to the presence of crocodiles. The man got into difficulties about 20 metres from shore.
His companions called the emergency services when he did not surface.
“The police and the national park rangers went to the scene when the alarm was raised,” the spokeswoman said.
“A search was mounted and three hours later, just after 10pm, the national park rangers located his body in about two metres of water.
“There’s no indication a crocodile was involved.”
It is thought the man may have got caught in reeds.
An autopsy is due to be carried out to confirm the cause of death.
The man had been staying in Darwin, the capital of the Northern Territory, before going in a group of about 20 backpackers to Kakadu.
