Marcus McGowan, 51, miraculously survived a harrowing encounter with a saltwater crocodile while snorkeling at a high-end resort in Queensland, Australia. He bravely fought off the predator by prying its jaws open, enduring cuts and lacerations in the process, BBC News reported.
Following the attack, he was swiftly transported by helicopter to a hospital on a nearby island and subsequently airlifted to Cairns for additional medical care. While crocodile attacks are rare in Australia, there have been a few reported incidents in recent months.
Snorkeller Escapes From Being A Crocodile's Meal
Mr. McGowan recounted his terrifying ordeal, revealing that he was snorkeling with a group near Haggerstone Island, off Cape York in Queensland, when he was unexpectedly attacked from behind. Initially mistaking the predator for a shark, he quickly realized it was a crocodile and managed to pry open its jaws just enough to free his head.
The juvenile crocodile made a second attempt, but he successfully pushed it away, sustaining a bite to his hand. The incident is now being investigated by Queensland's environment department, which acknowledges the challenge of locating crocodiles in the open ocean due to their extensive daily movements.
Haggerstone Island Resort, described as an exclusive luxury resort, is situated around 600km north of Cairns and is available for rent at a substantial price.
Crocodile attacks have become increasingly frequent in Australia's tropical north. In February, rangers shot and killed a 4.2m crocodile that attacked a man and his dog at a remote boat ramp north of Cairns.
Just recently, BBC also reported that the remains of a 65-year-old fisherman, Kevin Darmody, were discovered inside a 4.1m crocodile in the nearby Kennedy River, marking the 13th fatal attack in Queensland since record-keeping began in 1985.
While the state has a management program in place to address "problem crocodiles" and ensure public safety, including their removal and euthanasia on rare occasions, the crocodile population has rebounded significantly since hunting was banned in 1974, with an estimated 30,000 crocodiles currently residing in Queensland.
Saltwater Crocodile Diet
Saltwater crocodiles, renowned as one of the world's most formidable and lethal predators, evoke a sense of unease with their mere presence beneath the water's surface. Their reputation as one of the deadliest creatures on the planet is well-deserved.
Spanning from northern Australia to eastern India and Southeast Asia, saltwater crocodiles inhabit both coastal areas and freshwater rivers, living up to their name. As per Discover Wildlife, these crocodiles possess remarkable adaptability to saltwater environments, enabling them to venture out to sea for days or even weeks, traversing vast distances and potentially hunting during their aquatic journeys.
Their diet primarily consists of fish, mammals, and birds, with a preference for nocturnal hunting. Even small saltwater crocodiles are capable of capturing relatively large prey, while mature males, in particular, exhibit fearsome dominance, being capable of overpowering and consuming virtually any creature that enters their territory, including sharks and humans.
Notably, saltwater crocodiles are infamous for their hunting technique known as the "death roll." Once they have drowned their prey, these crocodiles execute rapid and forceful rolls in the water, dismembering the victim by removing its limbs. Their teeth are adept at gripping rather than tearing flesh, allowing them to subdue their quarry effectively.
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