National
Man fights off croc with belt knife as it drags him into river
A real-life Crocodile Dundee in northern Queensland used his belt knife to fight off a saltwater crocodile as it dragged him into a river.
The Queensland Department of Environment and Science said wildlife officers had investigated reports the 60-year-old was attacked by the crocodile on the banks of a remote section of the McIvor River, 20km north of Hope Vale, in Cape York.
The man said he had been fishing on his property on November 3 when the attack took place.
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He approached a bull standing on the river bank and tried to shoo it away so he could fish from the same spot.
The man said he saw the crocodile just seconds before it lunged at him, knocking him over and grabbing him by his feet.
He grabbed onto a mangrove branch and tried to hold on, but the crocodile was able to drag him off, towards the water.
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But he was able to pull his knife from his belt and stabbed the crocodile in the head until it let him go.
The man was able to drive himself to Cooktown Hospital, where he was flown to Cairns Hospital.
The DES reported the man’s injuries were consistent with a crocodile attack, and they suspect the predator was originally lured by the bull.
But due to the circumstances, including the property’s remote location and the lack of public access, they won’t be looking to remove the crocodile.
