Man Fights Off Massive Crocodile That Latched On To His Arm At A Waterfall

A man managed to escape death by fighting off a massive crocodile, believed to be at least 9-foot-long, at a waterfall in North Queensland, Australia.

Local media reports said that the man was attacked by the crocodile while he was swimming in a gorge at Adel's Grove on Sunday afternoon. The victim, who has not been identified, is said to be in his 40s. The man said the reptile latched on to his arm and tried to pull him into the waters.

LifeFlight Rescue aircrew officer Greig Allan noted that the crocodile attacked after it was startled by the man. The victim, who suffered injuries on the hands and leg, was flown to a hospital. He is now in a stable condition, News.com.au reported.

"We arrived an hour after the call due to the large distances that we have up here in the northwest," Allan told local TV station Sunrise, according to 7News. "His colleagues had done extremely well at pulling him out of the gorge and applying first aid. A flight paramedic then applied further first aid and assessed his wounds which were quite significant... He had severe lacerations to his forearm where the croc had latched onto."

"Incredibly he managed to prize the jaws off him, wrestling with the crocodile... He sustained further injuries – puncture wounds to his hands – before the croc departed, but not before giving him another little bite on the leg as it went," Allan added.

The area where the attack took place reportedly has a large population of freshwater crocodiles.

"They are normally quite timid but when they are surprised they will be aggressive," said Brad Hardy, Queensland Ambulance Service's northwest district superintendent, New Zealand Herald reported.

Allan said the man was lucky to have survived the terrifying attack.

"He was actually a pretty good spirits considering. I think coming into contact with a two or three minute crocodile is terrifying and he did well and managed to walk into the hospital," he added. "It was a pretty hot day yesterday and as most people do in this part of the world they use the gorge for a cooling off and a rest area and everybody knows that it is full of freshwater crocodiles but it is very rare that one would actually bite you."