Man fights off croc in freshwater swim hole
A MAN is lucky to be alive after fighting off a freshwater crocodile in North Queensland.
The victim, aged in his 40s, was swimming in a gorge at Boodjamulla Lawn Hill National Park in remote North West Queensland on Sunday when the freshwater crocodile latched on to his arm.
The man, who was a part of a motorbike tour group, put up a fight and wrestled with the croc until its jaws released him.
Fellow tour group members called triple-0 about 2pm and drove the injured man to a nearby airstrip where they met the Mount Isa RACQ Lifeflight Rescue helicopter.
The man suffered arm injuries, and puncture wounds to both hands and a leg.
Rescue aircrew officer Greig Allan said the man was lucky to be alive.
“He was in a lot of pain and the puncture wounds from the croc’s teeth were very deep,” Mr Allan said.
”The patient told us the freshwater crocodile would have been between two and three metres long, so he’s lucky to have escaped with his life.”
The man was flown to Mount Isa Hospital in a stable condition.
The national park is located near the Northern Territory border.
It’s about 200km north of the Barkly Highway.