“Dramatic Incident: Man’s Brave Escape from Crocodile’s Jaws at Australian Resort”
An Australian man had a terrifying encounter with a saltwater crocodile while snorkeling at an exclusive resort in Queensland, but miraculously managed to escape with his life.
Marcus McGowan, 51, recounted the harrowing incident, explaining how he fought off the predator by prying its jaws open, sustaining lacerations in the process.
After the attack, McGowan was immediately airlifted to a nearby island hospital and later transferred to Cairns for further medical treatment.
While crocodile attacks are rare in Australia, there have been a number of incidents in recent months.
According to McGowan, he was snorkeling with a group of individuals approximately 28 kilometers (17.3 miles) off Haggerstone Island near Cape York when the crocodile unexpectedly bit him from behind.
Initially mistaking it for a shark, McGowan managed to wedge the crocodile’s jaws open just enough to free his head. However, the reptile made another attempt, but he successfully pushed it away, receiving a bite to his hand in the process.
The Queensland Department of Environment has announced that it will conduct an investigation into the incident. However, locating crocodiles in the open ocean can be challenging, as these creatures often cover extensive distances on a daily basis.
Haggerstone Island Resort, described as a privately-owned luxury retreat, is situated on a remote island approximately 600 kilometers north of Cairns. The entire island can be rented for $7,600 (£4,063; $US4,979) per night.
Crocodiles are commonly found in the tropical regions of northern Australia, and there has been a recent surge in attacks.
In February, rangers were forced to shoot a 4.2-meter (13.4-foot) crocodile that had attacked a man and killed his dog at a remote boat ramp north of Cairns.
Earlier this month, the remains of a 65-year-old fisherman named Kevin Darmody were discovered inside a 4.1-meter crocodile in the nearby Kennedy River. This marked the 13th fatal crocodile attack in Queensland since records began in 1985.
Under Queensland’s management program, “problem crocodiles” are relocated from areas where they pose a threat to public safety and, in rare cases, euthanized.
Since the ban on crocodile hunting in 1974, the crocodile population in the state has rebounded from a low of around 5,000 animals to approximately 30,000 today.
