'Body of missing six-year-old' found in stomach of giant crocodile

A giant crocodile thought to have killed and eaten a six-year-old girl has been found with human teeth and bones inside its stomach.

The reptile, weighing more than a tonne, was one of two caught and gutted by experts from the Sarawak Forestry Corporation in Malaysia after Cecelia Julan Intik disappeared during a river swim. The crocodiles measured 17ft and 18ft respectively and were so heavy that searchers were forced to use a tug boat and a crane to pull them ashore.

Footage showed one of the crocodiles being hoisted onto the back of a pickup truck with some of the contents of its stomach spilling onto the road. Cecelia's family told police she had been dragged down by the powerful predator while she played in the water at Sungai Tatau on September 25.

The youngster's horrified sister and grandfather saw her being pulled under but could do nothing to stop the crocodile attack. Now the grim remains - believed to Cecelia's - have been discovered after wildlife experts gutted the captured reptiles on two days later September, 27 reports local media.

Inside one of the river beasts, officers found human teeth, bones and a handful of coins. Some of Cecela's family members watched the disturbing examination to help police identify the remains. Tatau district police chief deputy Superintendent Jame Reis confirmed: "On Friday, two crocodiles were trapped.

"The first at Hulu Sungai Sap at about 9.30am weighing 1.2 tonnes and the second animal was caught at 1.20pm weighing 1.3 tonnes, both on the same day." He added: "A dissection performed on the first reptile led to the discovery of teeth, bones and coins inside the crocodile's stomach."

The human remains have been sent to the forensic labs at Malaysia's Department of Chemistry for analysis. The captured animal was brought back to Jetty Pasar Lama Tatau and given to forestry experts for further studies. Findings from the second dissection have yet to be released to the public.