Hope Vale attack: Fisher stabs croc to escape jaws of death

A wildlife expert has detailed a fisherman’s “miracle” escape from the jaws of a 4m crocodile that happened in the blink of an eye but will now “play out for eternity” in the victim’s mind.

LATEST: A Far North wildlife expert has detailed the “miracle” escape from the jaws of a 4m croc that happened in the blink of an eye but will now “play out for eternity” in the mind of the victim.

A 40-year-old fisherman was grabbed by the feet and dragged into the water of the McIvor River, north of Hope Vale, on Thursday, before being driven to Cooktown and then to Cairns Hospital via a Royal Flying Doctor Service aircraft.

The fisherman, understood to be from Mareeba, is recovering well from physical injuries in Cairns Hospital but Department of Environment and Science wildlife program coordinator Dr Matt Brien said emotional scars would take longer to heal.

“These things happen in a few seconds but play out for eternity in the person’s mind,” he said.

“He’s quite traumatised.”

Mr Brien said the fisherman was lucky to escape the croc’s bite but also unlucky to fall prey to the animal that was initially stalking a bull on the river bank.

“It appears that the crocodile was targeting the bull or a cow at the time, and he’s basically just ended up in the wrong place at the wrong time,” he said.

“There was a struggle and he fortunately escaped the grip of a 4 to 4.5m crocodile.

“The odds of doing that are about zero. So it’s unusual that he’s still alive.”

Mr Brien said the fisherman’s quick reaction to pull a knife and stab the croc in the head saved his life.

“It’s the stuff of nightmares. To be grabbed by an animal like that and pulled into the water,” he said.

“The statistics on that are really clear, as far as being attacked by 4m plus crocodile and you have about a zero chance of survival.

“(The victim) would say it was a miracle. Absolutely.

“I think the problem is we all tend get complacent or we make mistakes and sometimes this is going to happen.”

The wildlife officer said it had been decided not to target the McIvor River crocodile for removal given the remote location and limited access to the river.

The croc victim has declined a Cairns Post interview request.

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EARLIER: A Cape York landowner has detailed a terrifying brush with death after being dragged into a river by a large saltwater crocodile.

According to a Department of Environment and Science the 60-year-old man was fishing on his property, 20km north of Hope Vale on the McIvor River, when a bull blocked access to the river bank.

He was shooing it away so he could fish the spot when he caught a split-second glimpse of his attacker.

But by then it was too late and the animal grabbed him by both feet and tried to drag him into the water.

A large saltwater crocodile has attacked Cape York landowner on the McIvor River, north of Hope Vale. Picture: Rob Griffith

He described grabbing a branch of a mangrove tree and holding on as long as he could while the animal pulled him closer to the water by his boots.

As he entered the water, the landowner managed to get a hand on his knife and stabbed the crocodile in its head until it let go.

He then scrambled up the bank and drove to Cooktown Hospital.

He was later flown to the Cairns Hospital, where he is recovering.

Due to the remote location of the property and no public access DES decided not the remove the croc from the wild.

A call backed by Hope Vale Mayor Jason Woibo.

“It’s in the bush, it’s not in a built up area, (the river is) its home,” he said.

EARLIER: A fisherman has escaped with his life after being attacked by a saltwater crocodile at a remote Cape York known to be home to some “pretty big crocs.”

The man, in his 60s, was bitten on the leg while retrieving a lure snagged on a log while fishing the McIvor River about 20km north of Hope Vale last week.

Hope Vale Mayor Jason Woibo said the man was lucky to be alive after escaping the jaws of the reptile by stabbing the animal with a knife.

“I have heard he was fishing and he was trying to retrieve a lure and he caught out,” he said.

“It is croc country – there have been a couple of crocs around up there, a couple of big ones.

“I have heard reports of small boats being tipped out up there; they are smarter and quicker than we give them credit for.

“He is just really lucky. You need to be crocwise in croc country.”

Cr Woibo said the man’s fishing buddy drove his injured mate to Cooktown where he boarded a Royal Flying Doctor Service aircraft bound for Cairns.

A Cairns Hospital spokesman said the man remained at the facility in a stable condition.

Cr Woibo urged all Cape York visitors to be aware of the predators.

“They do not see Frank or Bob they see rump steak,” he said.

“Just because there is no signs does not mean there is no crocs.

“If you go in thinking there’s going to be no croc then you are going to be in trouble.”

The incident follows an attack in August off Portlands Rd, north of Lockhart River when two soldiers were mauled by a 2.5m croc that was later destroyed by Department of Environment and Science rangers.

DES confirmed officers were investigating the latest Cape York attack.

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Originally published as Hope Vale attack: Fisher stabs croc to escape jaws of death