The body of a 12-year-old girl has been found in remote northern Australia, two days after she was attacked by a crocodile.

On Thursday, Northern Territory (NT) police confirmed human remains were found near to where the girl was last seen swimming at Nganmarriyanga, a small Aboriginal community 220 miles south-west of Darwin. 

Senior Sergeant Erica Gibson said confirmation of the death was “devastating news for the family, the community and everyone involved in the search”.

“Police are providing support to the family and community, along with the first responders who attended the scene,” she told local media.

The girl’s body was found at Mango Creek, where she had been with family on Tuesday as they cooled off while the temperature climbed to over 30C. Earlier, reports emerged that a child’s t-shirt had been recovered from the waterway.

“It was particularly gruesome and a sad and devastating outcome,” Sen Sergeant Gibson told the ABC.

Brent Potter, the NT Police Minister, said on Wednesday that officers had been authorised to “remove” a crocodile seen in the creek as they entered the “recovery stage” of the search.

“It’s a tragic incident for any parent or family member to lose a young child, and especially in the circumstances like that taken by a crocodile,” Mr Potter told local media.

“I know the search and rescue team are currently out there with members from the Wadeye police station and they’ll continue to do that to find that croc.”

He added: “We live in a place where crocodiles occupy our water places. It is a tragic event.”

Members of the public had called police about 5.30pm Tuesday, and searched the water themselves, before official rescue teams arrived with boats and helicopters.

A popular swimming hole for the 450 residents of Nganmarriyanga, the creek is considered safe during the dry season from May to October.

In the wet season, however, crocodiles can swim into nearby watering holes from the Daly River which is home to both freshwater and saltwater species.