‘Only a matter of time’: Croc attack not a surprise to Cooktown residents

A number of resident crocodiles are known to frequent the area where a man was savaged by a large saltie on Saturday, according to a former spearfisher.

A large saltwater crocodile is known to locals to frequent the area where a spearfisher was attacked on Saturday.

Cooktown resident and former spearfisher Bart Harrison said while the crocodile population at Archer Point had boomed in the last five years, there were a few resident crocodiles who were known to frequent the area.

“I don’t know which croc it was, there’s so many up here these days but there is one resident croc at Archers that fairly put the wind up the locals over the last five years,” Mr Harrison said.

Mr Harrison, who is a friend of the man who was attacked by a crocodile on Saturday, described him as a “top lad” and “usually a pretty croc-safe kind of guy.”

“I suppose you don’t have much of an option when you’re diving if a croc wants to get a hold of you,” he said.

“I’ve seen the croc many times and he’s about 12 to 13ft long. He’s a big croc and there’s always croc sightings down there.”

It is the third reported crocodile attack in the Far North over the past three months after a man was attacked while swimming with his dog in Bloomfield and a second man reportedly bitten while napping at Newell Beach.

Archer Point campgrounds near Cooktown in North Queensland. Picture: Facebook

Mr Harrison said crocodile encounters were not uncommon and he had heard stories from friends and locals about their territorial movements.

“On of my mates had a hairy encounter two or three years ago,” he said.

“He was swimming in the water and the croc puffed itself right up to put pressure on him. It followed him until my mate swam back to shore and pointed his speargun at it.

“The croc didn’t want to attack him, it’s just territorial behaviour.”

Mr Harrison said the booming croc population was one of the reasons he gave up spearfishing five years ago, a hobby he enjoyed since he was 13.

“I grew up swimming at Archers Point and spent way too much time down there,” he said.

“My mum would often drop me and my mates off and we’d swim along the coast spearfishing. Now I won’t even let my kids in the water except on a boat. It’s too risky.”

The QG Air 510 Rescue emergency services helicopter transports a 44 year old male spearfisherman to Cairns Hospital, after he was bitten multiple times by a 4.5 metre saltwater crocodile off Archer Point, south of Cooktown in Far North Queensland Picture Supplied

Despite the warning signs in the area and a decrease in spearfishing, Mr Harrison said people continued to spend time in the water.

“You’re allowed to do as you please at your own risk. but it’s a dangerous area to dive,” he said.

“Locals say it’s only a matter of time until someone gets whacked up here and it’ll happen again sadly.”

The Department of Environmental science (DES) has launched an investigation into the incident and on Sunday and had met with QPWS rangers, Yuku Baja Muliku rangers and Traditional Owners.

In a statement issued on Monday morning, DES confirmed they had not yet located the crocodile suspected to have attacked the spearfisher.

“No crocodiles were sighted by wildlife officers overnight,” a DES spokeswoman said.

“The crew are currently on the water conducting vessel-based surveys.”

The man, 36, was taken to Cairns Hospital on Saturday where he remains in a stable condition.

Originally published as ‘Only a matter of time’: Croc attack not a surprise to Cooktown residents