A man from a remote Northern Territory community has been killed by a 3.3-metre crocodile after wading into a notorious river crossing, an action described by a croc expert as "reckless and foolish."
The 47-year-old Gunbalanya local's body was found on Thursday night at Cahills Crossing - a feeding ground for crocs near Kakadu National Park.
The man had walked into the fast flowing East Alligator River in West Arnhem Land with two women around 4pm.
The women made it across the causeway safely about 4pm but raised the alarm when they looked back and realised their companion was missing.
Local police and rangers found his body 2km downstream around three hours later close to the saltie.
The reptile was shot and killed so authorities could safely recover the man's body, which has since been taken to Darwin for a coroner to determine the exact cause of death.
Cars are often washed off the flooded causeway after monsoonal wet season rains and the road had only just reopened a day ago.
Dr Adam Britton, a researcher at Charles Darwin University, says to actually brave the crossing on foot is "basically throwing your life away".
"Crocs will actually line up there to catch the fish. A lot of fishermen do a lot of stupid things there as well, standing up to their waist in the water," he told AAP.
"I'd describe his behaviour as reckless and foolish."
Dr Britton said a croc that size could weigh 150kg and is incredibly strong.
"It can pull you under in less than a second and if you resist or struggle, they're more likely to do a death roll," he said.
NT Police Superintendent Warren Jackson says the man was "just trying to get home".
"There's a community and a family who are grieving," he said.
"Top End waterways are dangerous any time of year. There are large crocodiles, there have been attacks previously, but now there's the added danger of swollen rivers and creeks, and fast-flowing water."
West Arnhem Regional Council Mayor Lothar Siebert knew the dead man, who leaves behind a partner.
"I've known him since he was a kid. He was a beautiful man, an asset to the community that has now lost him," Mr Siebert told AAP.
He said people are regularly forced to make the treacherous crossing, and a bridge and more accessible roads need to be built.
"If that was in Darwin, or in Sydney or in Brisbane, people would be doing something about it," he said.
"You've got a black spot there, and someone's got to take responsibility. Until then more people are going to die."
The last fatal attack at Cahills Crossing occurred in 1987 when a 40-year-old fisherman was decapitated by a 5.1m croc.
Last month a family of seven spent a terrifying night at the spot clutching to the roof of their submerged car in the croc-infested waters after it got swept away.
There have been 70 croc attacks in the Territory since they became a protected species in 1971, 22 of which were fatal.
Croc numbers have exploded up to 100,000 in the Top End since then, but there were no fatal attacks last year.
