Underwater camera captures the moment a crocodile calmly swims past a family paddling in a Western Australia gorge

THIS family had no idea they were being circled by a deadly predator. The terrifying video footage shows just how close they were.

The crocodile swam right past the Timms family. Picture: Mark Timms.

AN UNDERWATER Go-Pro camera has caught the moment a crocodile swam past a family going for a paddle who were blissfully unaware the deadly creature was within chomping distance.

Mark Timms and his family were on holiday in the Kimberley, in northeast Western Australia, when the close encounter occurred.

However, it didn’t take long for them to know something was up when Mr Timms’ son emerged bleeding from the water, with the croc suspected of taking a nibble on the 14-year-old’s arm.

The Perth family went for a swim in Moonshine Gorge, close to the El Questro resort in Durack, on the weekend.

“I had the GoPro on to see if anything cool was happening underwater,” Mr Timms told the West Australian. “And it captured the croc swimming around.”

But at the time the family had no idea they were so close to such a deadly predator.

In the footage, the crocodile can be seen deftly swimming past several members of the Timms family, just inches from bare flesh.

“It swam right through the middle of us and we never saw a thing,” he said.

“It brushed past myself and my wife and we both thought someone had accidentally kicked us.”

But it was Mr Timms’ son Cameron who got a bit too up close and personal with the creature, suffering puncture wounds to his elbow and stomach.

“We were just standing in a group and I was swimming through the middle when all of a sudden I felt something on the side of me,” he told the West Australian.

“I realised I was bleeding, I went into a bit of shock and didn’t know what was going on.”

Cameron was not seriously injured and after returning to the resort, the Royal Flying Doctor Service recommended he take antibiotics.

The website for El Questro promotes the local wildlife — including the crocs. “A day spent with a local ranger will introduce to a huge variety of animals and birds — you may even spot a saltwater crocodile.”