Caught crocodile guilty of attack

ENVIRONMENTAL experts say crocodile caught in trap last week is the one responsible for an attack on a fisherman in far north Queensland.

ENVIRONMENTAL experts say a crocodile that was caught in a trap last week is the one responsible for an attack on a fisherman in far north Queensland.

The Department of Environment and Resource Management (DERM) said the three-metre croc was caught last Thursday in Trunding Creek near Weipa, the same creek as the attack.

"DERM officers compared photos of bite marks and an impression of the crocodile's teeth to identify the animal," DERM spokesman Scott Sullivan said in a statement.

"[It] was responsible for the attack on a 28-year old man at Weipa on Wednesday 9 March."

Todd Bairstow was taken by the legs by the animal while fishing on a bank of Trunding Creek.

The mine worker held onto a mangrove until a friend arrived to help fend off the animal, whacking it with a tree branch until it let go.

Mr Bairstow suffered horrific, but not life threatening injuries from the attack, including dislocated joints and extensive lacerations.

He was flown to Cairns Base Hospital and underwent a series of operations, including protracted and painful sessions to clean wounds caused by highly-infectious crocodile bites.

The croc has been taken to Cairns for examination and then will be sent to a farm or zoo to live out its days.