news

Friend watches in horror as Queensland woman is snatched by crocodile during late night swim.

A woman in her forties is feared dead after being taken by a crocodile in Far North Queensland.

The 46-year-old woman disappeared after going for a late night swim with a friend in crocodile-infested waters at Thornton Beach in the Daintree, north of Cairns.

Witnesses say they heard a woman yelling  “a croc’s got me, a croc’s got me”, according to Channel Nine.

The women were swimming at night in waters known to be inhabited by crocodiles. Source: iStock

The woman's friend reportedly tried to pull her from the jaws of the crocodile, but was unable to.

She was taken to a nearby hospital and treated for trauma.

"Her 47-year-old friend tried to grab her and drag her to safety but she just wasn't able to do that," Senior Constable Russell Parker told ABC radio.

"They had been walking along the beach and they've decided to go for a swim... (it was) probably a very nice, clear night, but obviously (they) may not have been aware of the dangers."

Police said the women weren't from the local area.

A search is currently under way for the woman but no trace has been found so far and authorities are fearing the worst.