BIRTHDAY PARTY HORROR: Man eaten by crocodile in Australia

A THIRTIETH birthday camping trip tued to horror when a reveller was taken by a massive crocodile while swimming across a Northe Territory river in Australia.

The man has been identified as Sean Cole, an IT worker, orginally from Katherine, The Northe Territory News reports.

Mr Cole and a friend swam to the middle of the muddy Mary River and were heading back when the saltie lunged at the pair taking one of the men below the surface.

The attack happened near the camping ground of the Mary River Wildeess Retreat sometime before 4pm on Saturday.

NT Police watch commander Geoff Bahnert said up to 15 party-goers had witnessed the attack along with other guests at the Wildeess Retreat.

Eric Linhart of Victoria said many campers saw a 5m crocodile lurking on the opposite bank to the camp ground on Saturday afteoon.

\"I would never ever go in that water. Why that young man did I don't know.''

Campers described hearing semi-automatic gunfire late into the night as crocodile catchers and police hunted for the rogue crocodile.

Police believe they managed to shoot it but did not retrieve its body.

NT Police, Parks and Wildlife officers search along Mary River for the remains of a man who was taken by a saltwater crocodile. Pictire: Michael Franchi

The search is continuing.