Thread: Is this Tewwy? - drunken crocodile wrestling

Drunken miner escapes jaws of Crocodile


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AAP
March 27, 2008 07:15pm

A DRUNKEN miner was only seconds away from being attacked by a crocodile in Australia's northern waters when police saved his life by shooting at the reptile.
Horrified onlookers watched from the shore outside the Alyangula Recreation Club on Groote Eylandt as the determined crocodile closed in on the man shortly before 10.30am today.

The 27-year-old man, who works at the nearby Gemco mine, was drinking with a mate when he was apparently dared to swim out to a croc trap 70m offshore.

Local police commander Colin Smith said there were unconfirmed reports he was already aware the reptile was in the area.

"People saw this large crocodile in the water nearby and saw this idiot swimming out towards the croc trap," said Commander Smith.

"They called police who got there fairly quickly... It started off 20m from him, then closed in to 10m and started to pick up pace for the attack."

As terrified onlookers screamed out to the man to try and get his attention, Commander Smith said an officer steadied himself onshore and took the first of several shots with his Glock Pistol.

"The first one either hit the croc or put him off because it swam under the water," he said.

"But it was still headed in the man's direction and this is when police fired more shots ... to give him time to reach the shore.

"No one doubts the actions of police saved this fella."

Commander Smith said the man - who did not realise just how close he came to the jaws of death - might have "done it as a dare".

"(When he got out of the water) he was intoxicated and argumentative with police," said Commander Smith.

"He didn't seem to appreciate that police had probably just saved his life.'

Police are still considering whether to take disciplinary action against the miner, who deliberately ignored warning signs and could be charged with disorderly behaviour in a public place.

"Generally most people in the Territory are fairly aware the danger of crocodile attacks in the water and generally there is a healthy respect," Commander Smith said.

Michael O'Keefe, assistant manager of the Alyangula Recreation Club, said he had called out to the drunken men before one of them jumped in the water.

"I reckon he had one minute to go (before the croc attacked him)," Mr O'Keefe told the ABC.

"It had started to pick up pace ... I'd yelled to those guys there was a 4m crocodile out there.

"This guys is an idiot ... he's not from this planet."

Mr O'Keefe is believed to have taken a video of the incident.