Swimmers flee NT swimming hole as man attacked by crocodile

A popular swimming hole in a national park has been closed after a crocodile mauled a swimmer, forcing dozens of holiday-makers to flee.

Dozens of tourists have fled the waters of a Northern Territory national park swimming hole after it’s believed a man was attacked by a crocodile.

NT Parks and Wildlife closed Wangi Falls, in Litchfield National Park, on Monday afternoon after “unconfirmed reports of an incident with a crocodile,” according to a social media post.

“We have closed access for safety reasons,” it reads, “please obey all closures and do not enter the water.”

About 80 people were swimming at Wangi Falls on Sunday when the attack happened. Picture: Darren Dans

NT News reported an off-duty nurse helped the man, aged in his 60s, until staff from a local health clinic arrived to transport the man.

Taneka Starr, a visitor from Tasmania, told the paper about 80 people were swimming at Wangi Falls when the attack took place.

“He saw the croc and warned another man which diverted the croc back to him,” Taneka said.

“People on the viewing platform were screaming at us to get out of the water, which we all did.

“[It was] terrifying.”

She said the man suffered scratches and an open-wound to his arm, and while he was in shock, tried to downplay his condition because his grandchildren were present.

Rangers caught a 3.5m saltwater crocodile at Wangi Falls in January. Picture: supplied

A Tasmanian police officer put her body on the line to protect her family during the attack.

Detective Taneka Starr was on holiday with her family when onlookers began screaming about the crocodile.

“We formed a circle together to make sure we all made it out of the water safely as a group, especially the children,” she said.

“We then saw that a man had suffered injuries to his arm and together my sisters and I provided first aid.

“I’m so glad that everyone was OK. It was a pretty terrifying experience.”

Wangi Falls is a popular dry-season swimming hole, about an hour’s drive south of Darwin.

The incident comes just a day after a 2.5m saltwater crocodile (a “saltie” to the locals, as opposed to a “freshie”) closed Bitter Springs, in the Elsey National Park.

The NT Government says while they take visitor safety seriously, the way people behave around crocodile habitats is their responsibility.

“Any body of water in the Top End may contain large and potentially dangerous crocodiles,” reads their crocodile education website Crocwise.