The bodies of a 26-year-old swimmer and the crocodile that killed him in a notorious Outback river at the weekend have been recovered by Australian police.

Sean Cole and a friend were swimming across the Northern Territory's Mary River when the 15ft crocodile clamped its jaws around his chest on Saturday afternoon, as 15 friends watched in horror from the bank.

Northern Territory wildlife ranger Tom Nichols said Mr Cole's body and the dead crocodile floated to the surface early today. The crocodile had been shot by rangers within hours of the attack on Saturday night, but had sunk before it could be retrieved.

Mr Cole had been celebrating a friend's birthday at the Mary River Wilderness Retreat, a popular Outback tourist destination.

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