‘Shocked’: 3m crocodile lurking in Queensland family’s video

A mum-of-five has spotted a deadly beast lurking in a popular Queensland creek while filming her family swimming.

A Queensland mum has shared the ‘shocking’ moment she unknowingly filmed a saltwater crocodile swimming just metres away from her kids at a popular creek.

Mother-of-five Alicia May filmed the close encounter while enjoying a typical weekend swim with her children at Rollingstone Creek, north of Townsville.

When she later returned home to watch the footage, she noticed a “large shadow” lurking in the water below them.

“I was a little bit shocked that I saw something quite big on the video so I played it slowly, paused and zoomed in,” Ms May told ABC.

“You can see the two feet (and) you can see a tail at the end of it.”

Ms May unknowingly filmed the crocodile swimming in the creek. Picture: 7News

She later spotted a large shadow in the water when she watched the footage. Picture: 7News

Ms May later reported the sighting to the Department of Environment and Science, who confirmed the creature was a crocodile, estimated to be 3m long.

Shaken by the encounter, Ms May said the family won’t be returning to the creek ever again.

“I’m scared to be absolutely honest,” she told 7News.

“We have a few spots we know up in the mountains that we hike and we will swim there and that will be it unfortunately.”

The mum-of-five said she’s “scared” after the encounter and won’t be returning to the creek. Picture: 7News

She was filming her kids swimming in the water at the time. Picture: 7News

The family typically visit the creek on weekends. Picture: 7News

The Department of Environment and Science said Ms May and anyone else swimming in the creek over the weekend can consider themselves “lucky”.

“Crocodiles are highly mobile, and they travel upstream in our rivers and creeks to source freshwater and feed on animals that come down to the banks to drink,” it said in a statement on Monday.

“You never know what is lurking in waterways, and people really need to make sensible choices when they’re near the water in Croc Country.”

The department said crocodile warning signs had recently been installed in the area and wildlife officers had planned to conduct a spotlight assessment on Tuesday night.

Senior Wildlife Officer Tony Frisby said the crocodile would be “targeted for removal” when found.

Mr Frisby said the crocodile will be “targeted for removal”. Picture: 7News

He warned the reptiles could be more active in North Queensland given the recent heavy rainfall following tropical cyclones Jasper and Kirrily.

“Crocodiles are really receptive to weather events and the animals are moving around quite a bit at the moment,” Mr Frisby told 7News.

“Any river or estuary in North Queensland that connects to the sea could have animals in it.”

Ms May said she was taking the warning seriously.

“There’s always a risk and a chance that there’s crocodiles anywhere.”