Australian Man Survives Attack By 4 Meter Crocodile

Having lived in Australia for so long, I still find it amazing how people continue to not take the proper precautions when in areas frequented by crocodiles:

An Australian fisherman underwent surgery Friday for horrific injuries he suffered while fighting off a huge crocodile that tried to snatch him from a riverbank, the hospital said.

“He is undergoing his second surgery now… and he will be in for many, many weeks,” said Tracie Sanim, spokeswoman for the Cairns Base Hospital where Todd Bairstow, 28, was rushed after escaping the animal’s jaws.

“Crocodile attacks have a high infection rate… so his recovery will be dependent on how high the infection is,” she told AFP.

Bairstow was fishing with his dog at a creek near the town of Weipa in northern Queensland on Wednesday when a four-metre (13-feet) saltwater crocodile lunged at him and tried to drag him under the water, police said.

During a terrifying ordeal, the plucky fisherman reportedly held onto mangrove tree roots as the giant reptile chomped on his legs and dragged him into a “death roll” that broke bones and tore his flesh.

The crocodile only retreated after Bairstow’s friend heard his screams from the nearby pub and helped beat off the predator.  [Associated Press]

When in areas that are home to crocodiles I would often see fishermen wading into the rivers to fish.  That is why most of the crocodile attacks you hear of from Australia involve fishermen.

You can view pictures I took of these massive crocodiles in Australia here and here.