Video: Local shares frightening experience coming face to face with crocodile at beach south of Gladstone

A woman has shared her frightening tale of coming within metres of a large crocodile while swimming at the beach with her daughter and beloved dog. Watch the video.

Footage has emerged of a crocodile swimming near a popular Central Queensland beach as authorities confirm they are investigating.

The Department of Environment confirmed it was aware of a crocodile sighting south of Gladstone, with technology picking up the animal on Thursday morning at Canoe Point, Tannum Sands near the dog off-leash area.

Spatial information mapping on the Queensland Government’s website confirms the animal was spotted on the southern side of the Boyne River mouth connected to the Tannum Sands beach.

Tannum Beach is a popular swimming spots for locals and tourists and is known as being part of the southern point of Croc country. Picture: Bel Josefski

A Gladstone woman shared the details of her ordeal after what seemed like a typical, beautiful Thursday morning at the beach with her daughter and dog.

“It was coming straight for us, I legged it out of the water with my little staffy and eldest daughter, when the crocodile got too close to us our dog ran it after us and then it turned around and swam away,” she said.

“The only reason I saw it was because there was absolutely no waves at all and the water was clear as, thank God.

“It was a big adrenaline rush that’s for sure; it was an awesome experience but a bit worrying at the same time.”

The Gladstone woman, who preferred not to be identified, said she arrived at Canoe Point around midday and spotted to crocodile approaching from around the rocks near the Tannum Sands main beach, before it turned away from the group and headed towards the Boyne River mouth.

While she knows what she saw and has the footage to go with her experience, she knows many will try and rubbish her claims.

“There’s always some idiot that’s going to say it’s not a crocodile, we know what we saw and and trust me, I’m going to be very wary from now on,” she said.

Authorities wanted to remind residents and tourists that the area is known croc country.

Croc country (considered to be typical crocodile habitat) begins at the Boyne River south of Gladstone, and extends northward, up the east coast and across Far North Queensland, according to the Department’s website.

“Just because you can’t see a crocodile, it doesn’t mean there is not one close by,” the website states.

“Crocodiles can stay underwater for more than an hour, even large crocodiles can be completely concealed in knee-deep water.”

The Department website confirms it is an Estuarine crocodile.

In Queensland, they are known to occur between Gladstone and Cape York Peninsula, and throughout the Gulf of Carpentaria.

Although most commonly seen in tidal reaches of rivers, they also occur along beaches and offshore islands in the Great Barrier Reef.

An aerial view of Tannum Sands Beach. Picture: Supplied.

DES is asking members of the public to report crocodile sightings as soon as possible by calling 1300 130 372 or using the Croc Watch App. DES investigates all reports it receives.