Shoalhaven Zoo animal handler Trent Burton has described Monday's encounter with the zoo's crocodile as a "brain fart" but is still keen to perform the popular feeding show.
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Mr Burton is recovering in the Sydney Hospital Hand Unit after the horrifying attack in front of a terrified holiday crowd.
Zoo owner Nick Schilko said Mr Burton had already described the incident as a brain fart.
"He was upset with himself, he almost lost his life," he said. "He has already said he'd like to do the show again and explain what happened."
Mr Burton, 31, suffered puncture wounds to both hands after being bitten and dragged into the water of the croc's enclosure during a school holiday show at the North Nowra zoo.
He had damage to his right hand that required a few stitches but his left hand needed specialist treatment.
"Trent has had a few interesting things happen to him over the years and we expect him to be back in a week or so," Mr Schilko said.
Mr Schilko had earlier recounted the horrifying moment when the 65-kilogram handler was grabbed by the croc.
"Trent was feeding the croc but he wasn't moving and Trent was hoping to get him to move forward, and encouraged him with food," he said.
"He flipped the food at his [the crocodile's] face. He caught it in his mouth and as he's tried to flick it up to put it in his mouth further, Trent tried to reach and take it out of his mouth.
"Why you do that, I don't know. Basically, his hand got caught in the moment - the crocodile has gone bonus and started backing up to the water, and dragged him all the way to the water. Trent fell into the water, on to the crocodile and from Trent's words: 'landing on the crocodile coincided with him letting go'.
"Trent then sprang out of the water. And that was awesome - the best-case scenario you could ever imagine."