1.08pm
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Details have emerged of the terrifying incident in the Top End where a Wollongong man was hit by a huge crocodile which launched itself into their boat in a Kakadu river at night.
Keen fisherman Greg Schwartz met up with the three Illawarra fishos the night after the incident and confirmed the crocodile was a giant.
"The boys were doing the night fish, and they had their head torches off. He thought I'll just turn the torch on - and here's a croc in the water looking at him," Mr Schwartz told ABC Darwin's Tales from the Tinny fishing show.
"With that, the croc launched at him, he went 'croc'! and leant forward. The croc hit the guy in the middle seat and grazed him across the back. [Then] the croc's gone off the back of the boat and obviously the boys are a bit toey and got the hell out of there."
He said the boat, a 5m Haines Signature, angled down at the bow, giving the croc an easier spot to launch in.
Keen fisherman Greg Schwartz met up with the trio the night after the incident and confirmed the crocodile was a giant.
"They did the teeth marks analysis, Fisheries did, and they said from the gash mark on his back it had to be a 4-4.5m croc," Mr Schwartz said.
"The next night they came in, they'd gone out fishing again the boys, pretty game, we asked if they'd come to the same spot and they said 's*** no'.
"They were just very, very lucky boys.
"They were keen to get out, they were heading out as soon as they could. they were trough little buggers. They got fish, they got some fish alright."
Crocodile expert Adam Britton said the behaviour was unusual.
"Certainly from the damage done to the seat which the crocodile bit, and also the grazing ... it was a pretty big crocodile," he said.
He said usually crocs would not jump into a boat.
"It's very unusual for a crocodile to do that, to actually come all the way up into a boat," he said. "A croc is capable of doing that but in terms of motivation [they'll] generally stay away.
"So for them to do that, there has to be a very specific reason for it to do it's. If there's a really tempting smell of food, that's a really good reason to do that."
12.24pm
Kakadu National Park staff are searching for the crocodile that leapt into a boat and left a Wollongong man with a minor injury.
"Crocodiles exhibiting aggressive behaviour are captured and assessed before being relocated," a park spokesperson said.
"Consultation with Traditional Owners takes place before a decision to destroy a crocodile is taken."
The park's crocodile management team surveys crocodiles in the park to monitor activity, numbers and behaviour.
"Crocodile management is a key responsibility of all rangers in Kakadu National Park," the spokesperson said.
The 32-year-old involved in last Saturday night's incident is no longer receiving treatment for his injury, a graze to his flank.
Earlier
A Wollongong man has escaped with minor injuries after a crocodile launched itself into his boat at Kakadu National Park.
The 32-year-old was fishing with friends on the South Alligator River on the night of Saturday, April 24 when the animal jumped out of the water and into the boat.
"The man received a graze to his flank after a crocodile launched into the boat, attacking his seat and injuring the man," an NT Health spokesman said.
The man was treated at Jabiru Health Centre on April 25, NT Health said, and continued to seek routine medical treatment at the same clinic.
More to come.
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Natalie Croxon
Reporter at the Illawarra Mercury, mostly covering social affairs. Previously of the Bendigo Advertiser, Northern Daily Leader and Quirindi Advocate. Our Watch award winner.
Reporter at the Illawarra Mercury, mostly covering social affairs. Previously of the Bendigo Advertiser, Northern Daily Leader and Quirindi Advocate. Our Watch award winner.
