Briton feared killed by crocodile

NAIROBI, Kenya -- Rescue teams in Africa have found the body of a British teenager who went missing after swimming in a lake.

It is believed Amy Nicholls was the victim of a crocodile attack. Police said one of her arms was missing.

The 18-year-old gap year student from London, disappeared while swimming in Kenya's Lake Challa on Friday.

The Kenya Wildlife Service said on Monday that a body had been recovered from the lake.

A spokesman for the British High Commission also said a body was found in Lake Challa at 7.30am local time.

A Foreign and Commonwealth Office spokeswoman in London told the Press Association: "Kenyan Police are investigating but there is no cause of death at the moment.

"Staff at the High Commission in Nairobi are standing by to assist the family."

Nairobi police spokesman Peter Kimanthi said a body -- which was missing an arm -- had been recovered.

"As I am speaking to you now, the body has been recovered but with one limb missing. The body is at the scene awaiting airlifting to the morgue," he told Sky News.

The teenager was with 16 other people and working as a conservation volunteer on a four-and-half-month expedition organised by Africa and Asia Venture Ltd.

Mature group

The UK company, based in Devizes, Wiltshire, western England, said she was swimming with two friends at the popular south Kenya beauty spot at about 7pm on Friday when she went underwater and did not re-emerge.

Africa and Asia Venture said in a statement that an inquest into the girl's death would be held in Kenya on Tuesday.

Janie Bell, whose husband Peter is a director of Africa and Asia Venture Ltd and has flown to Kenya with colleague Nigel Warren, told PA: "The Kenya Wildlife Service, the hotel and locals said it (the lake) was and always has been crocodile-free.

"They ensured before they went swimming the safety of the lake. They did everything they should have and they were a very mature group."

In a statement, Africa and Asia Venture Ltd said: "Her companions reported the incident to the police who told other agencies.

"The group have now returned to their base and will be looked after by friends while the search continues."

The missing girl, whose father, Alan, 52, has also flown to Kenya, was taking a year out before taking up a place at Edinburgh University.

Lake Challa lies on the top of a dome-shaped volcanic hill in the Tsavo West National Park.

Mount Kilimanjaro, the 5,895 metre-high mountain in neighbouring Tanzania, can easily be seen from the beauty spot, rising across the nearby border.

According to local guidebooks, the 87m-deep lake is noted for its beauty and scenery, making it popular with tourists from both Kenya and abroad.