A human leg has been found on a major road as police are scrambling to find who it belongs to.
A passing motorist discovered the leg along the Stuart Highway in Coolalinga, south of Darwin, Australia, at about 9am local time on Tuesday.
Police say a forensic pathologist confirmed it belonged to a human and that it had dark skin.
They said they have not found other body parts in the area, despite extensive searches.
It is not known if the victim is alive or dead and they have not received reports from hospitals with an injury of this nature.
Detective Senior Sergeant Paul Morrissey told reporters: "We've had a forensic pathologist attend on-site who has confirmed the remains are a lower leg of a dark-skinned human being."
Det Snr Sgt Morrissey said it is likely the victim suffered a serious injury.
He added: "We believe it's within the last 24 hours. There have been no reports to hospitals or clinics with an injury of this severity."
Another motorist told NT News they saw the leg on Monday night.
They said: "I saw what looked to me like most of a leg and foot.
“It was laying crossways on the road and I saw the sole of the foot and toes.”
“I thought for sure that I didn’t just see part of a human leg and didn’t actually believe myself, until this morning when I saw they found human remains on the highway.”
Major crash and crime scene investigators and crime detectives were at the scene.
General duties and Tactical Response Group officers helped search the area and concentrated on the grass and the area that separates the four-lane roadway.
Police have appealed for motorists with dashcam footage recorded on the section of the highway between Monday afternoon and Tuesday morning to come forward.
