An Australian politician has blamed 'human stupidity' for the disappearance of a New Zealand woman attacked by a crocodile in Queensland.
Local police suggested 46-year-old Cindy Waldron may not have known Thornton Beach was inhabited by crocodiles, but House of Representative member Warren Entsch said she must have seen the many crocodile warning signs in the region.
"You can't legislate against human stupidity. If you go in swimming at 10 o'clock at night, you're going to get consumed," Entsch said.
"People have to have some level of responsibility for their own actions."
He also called for people to not "start vendettas" against crocodiles.
A rescue helicopter using thermal imaging equipment failed to find any trace of Ms Waldron on the night of her disappearance.
Douglas Shire Mayor Julia Leu said the search will continue today.
"Authorities were called, there were helicopters. Obviously it was dark, which does make it a lot more difficult," she told Paul Henry.
"At first light yesterday the search commenced. All day there were a number of boats out, looking along different estuaries, different areas where perhaps the crocodile could be. They had to cease that in the evening, and it's starting again [this morning]."
Ms Waldron's friend survived the attack. She was taken to a hospital suffering from shock and a graze to her arm, inflicted as the crocodile brushed against her, The Independent reports.
"The report that we have from the surviving woman is that they felt a nudge and her partner started to scream and then was dragged into the water," said Queensland Ambulance Service spokesman Neil Noble.
"It would be horrific, we really do feel for her very much," said Ms Leu.
The attack occurred near where a five-year-old boy was taken and killed by a 4.2m crocodile from a swamp in 2009. A 43-year-old woman was also killed by a 4.8m crocodile while swimming in a creek in 1985.
Ms Leu said when crocodiles aren't present, it is a "lovely little beach".
"The entire Daintree National Park is very well-known for crocodiles -- it is their habitat."
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