Crocodile put down after attacking two men in Far North Queensland

A crocodile has been euthanised after it attacked two men who were swimming in Far North Queensland on Friday.

A crocodile who attacked a young soldier in Far North Queensland on Friday, leaving him with serious injuries, has been euthanised.

The man, aged in his 20s, suffered severe injuries to his head and body after being attacked by the croc when swimming with a friend in the Lockhart River.

The other man, aged in his 30s, suffered wrist and arm injuries.

The man in his 30s reportedly stabbed the crocodile with a knife before driving their tender back to the main vessel.

They were treated on-board by the ship’s medic before they were flown to Cairns Hospital for treatment.

Two men mauled by a saltwater croc were transferred from a rescue helicopter to a Royal Flying Doctor Service of Australia plane at the Lockhart River airstrip on Friday night. Picture: RFDS

Department of Environment and Science Wildlife Officer Ren Bone said the crocodile was located near where the incident occurred and was easily identified by its highly aggressive behaviour when approached by boat.

“Our wildlife officers have just humanely euthanised an approximately 2.5 metre crocodile,” he said.

“The delegate takes many factors into consideration when making these decisions, in this case if we were to trap and move the animal over a long distance that usually has a negative outcome for the crocodile.”

“We can’t leave an animal that has attacked a human being in the community because that would pose a risk to them.”

The department deployed a range of resources to capture the animal, including a vessel, wildlife officers, drones, crocodile traps and baited snares.