A BRITISH tourist who went missing a week ago may have been eaten by a crocodile, police fear.
Elaine McSorley, 71, and husband Leon, 81, went walking to a lake — but he struggled in the heat and turned back.
Elaine McSorley, 71, and husband Leon, 81, went walking to a lake — but he struggled in the heat and turned backSAPS/Jamie Pyatt News Ltd
He raised the alarm three hours later when she did not return to their hotel.
Signs by the lake in South Africa’s KwaZulu Province warn of man-eating crocodiles.
Leon has now checked out of the Ghost Mountain Inn and police do not know where he is.
They suspect a crocodile took Elaine, or foul play — but have no evidence of either.
Lieutenant Colonel Paul Magwaza said: “The British couple checked into the Ghost Mountain Inn at 1pm and went for a walk at 2pm.
“According to the husband during the walk to the lake he decided to turn back and returned to the hotel but when she did not return he raised the alarm.
“We have been searching day and night but there is no sign of her. It is like she has vanished into thin air. The dogs have picked up no traces either.
“If she had simply collapsed and died we would have found her by now. There are theories as to what happened but I am not going to speculate.”
A police forum member said: “We’re starting to look at whether she was devoured.
“There’s no sign of crime.”
PixabaySigns by the lake in South Africa’s KwaZulu Province warn of man-eating crocodiles[/caption]