Viral video of tourist refusing to get out of crocodile waters

This Cairns local couldn’t believe what he was seeing – but it was the tourist’s reaction to his warning that he found even more shocking.

A video of a man paddling on a small board at a boat ramp in Far North Queensland has gone viral.

Cairns local Shane Bates, who filmed the video, told the man to get out of the water at Yorkeys Knob because of the danger of crocodiles.

There are permanent crocodile warning signs in the area that tell people not to swim. Waters around boat ramps can be especially dangerous because fish scraps and bait can attract the reptiles.

But the paddler was defensive and said he should be left alone to do his thing, and claimed that the signs were “generic”.

Mr Bates, who was there to fish, told news.com.au the “old fella” walked down the pontoon and “hopped straight into the murky water without batting an eyelid”.

He thought the swimmer must have been a tourist or not have known English because there are signs warning people not to swim.

He said in addition to the usual warning signs, there was one about a recent crocodile sighting within the last 14 days.

“I later saw the number plates on his car weren’t Queensland plates,” Mr Bates said.

He said he had called out to the tourist to tell him about the signs but the man argued back.

“I began filming because I couldn’t believe him arguing,” Mr Bates said.

“He wasn’t really listening to what I was saying until a lady chimed in as well.”

Mr Bates said the man splashed around for almost 30 minutes while they went back and forth, and then eventually, reluctantly, got out of the water.

He added that the tourist wasn’t just putting himself in danger but also crocodiles.

The coast of Yorkeys Knob is considered Zone D under Queensland’s crocodile management plan, which means any crocodiles displaying dangerous behaviour are targeted for removal.

Wildlife officers must first attempt to capture the animal and take them to a licensed zoo or farm, but if they fail after several attempts, humane euthanasia may be considered.

A local confronts a trouist paddling at Yorkeys Knob boat ramp. Picture: @batesyadventures / TikTok

Two crocodile sightings were officially reported in the Yorkeys Knob area just last month, according to the Queensland Environment Department’s crocodile sighting dashboard.

A spokesman for the department told news.com.au that while people are responsible for their own safety in Croc Country, they are specifically advised not to use “small watercraft such as kayaks and paddleboards”.

“The smaller the vessel, the greater the risk — crocodiles have taken people from small vessels,” he said.

People in Croc Country are told to obey all warning signs, but to also expect crocodiles in all waterways even if there is no warning sign.

Croc Country is considered to be typical crocodile habitat and extends from the Boyne River south of Gladstone, up the east coast and across far north and north west Queensland to the Northern Territory border.

The original video has ben viewed more than 1.7 million times on TikTok. Picture: @batesyadventures / TikTok

Mr Bates’ original video has been viewed more than 1.7 million times on TikTok and has been reshared elsewhere across social media.

Some Australians could not believe what they were seeing.

“I love he wears a stinger suit but doesn’t care about the crocs,” one person wrote with laughing emojis, garnering thousands of likes.

“You wouldn’t have to tell me once,” joked another.

“I’m from Victoria and even I know you don’t do stuff like that,” wrote a third.

“The thing is the filmer is actually concerned for a random person’s wellbeing, yet the other guy just wants to argue with him,” someone else said.

“There are too many southerners coming up to FNQ that do not have a clue,” another argued.

The footage has not only attracted the attention of Australians. It has gone global, with foreigners eagerly wanting to know more about the dangers of travelling in Australia.

“If I ever come to Australia, can you please escort me around your land telling me what to fear?” one person asked.

“I’m from America and would NEVER go swimming in 98 per cent of the waters in Australia, just a death wish,” claimed a second.

Some Americans compared swimming in FNQ to swimming in Florida, which has American crocodiles and American alligators.

“When I lived in Florida, someone told me if you don’t see the local swim there, you don’t swim there,” one said.

“I was given this advice on how to tell if there is a gator in the water in Florida. Look at the water, if it’s water then there are gators in there,” penned a second American.