Irish man feared to have drowned in Australia

The Department of Foreign Affairs is investigating reports that an Irish man has drowned in Australia.

The incident is believed to have happened 171 kilometres southeast of Darwin.

The alarm was raised shortly after 7pm Australian time after the man went for a swim in a billabong in Kakadu National Park and failed to surface.

The 27-year-old was found three hours later by park rangers, not far from where he was last seen.

Police there suspect the man got into trouble and drowned, but a post mortem will be carried out to confirm how the man died.

The area in the Northern Territory is popular with tourists and backpackers.

The Department of Foreign Affairs confirmed that it is investigating the reports