Bill Yan climbs tree to avoid 3.5m croc near Top end billabong

‘I’m no Matt Wright, no Crocodile Dundee, that’s for sure’: An NT politician has recounted how he was forced up a tree to avoid encountering a mega croc. Watch the video here.

Why did the politician climb up a tree? To get away from a croc, of course.

It sounds like a ridiculous joke but was the reality for Namatjira MLA Bill Yan, who had a close encounter with a huge saltwater crocodile on national Gone Fishing Day.

On October 9, Mr Yan went to a billabong along the Arnhem Highway and while walking along a game trail, about 10 to 15m from the water’s edge, stopped in his tracks.

“There were shrubs along the left and an old paperbark tree on the right. I looked down and saw a croc slide across the game trail,” he said.

“I stopped and had a look but it was old because there were footprints across it. I stepped over the slide and heard all this noise from the bush on the left and went straight up the tree.

“A croc’s head came out from under the bush. She was looking at me, I was looking at here. We were having a Mexican standoff, trying to figure out who makes the next move.”

Mr Yan sat in the tree contemplating his options when after about five minutes, the croc decided to make its move.

The snout of the crocodile. Picture: Bill Yan

The croc close up. Picture: Bill Yan

“It took off and went around the side of the tree and into the billabong,” he said.

“It wanted to get to the water and finally got the courage up, before I got the courage to get out of the tree.

“It wasn’t a great place to be. I’m no Matt Wright, no Crocodile Dundee, that’s for sure.”

This wild encounter was captured in a video by Mr Yan. In the first few seconds, it shows where Mr Yan is standing in the tree. A snout is poking out beneath the scrub and its full head can be see when Mr Yan zooms in.

Namatjira MLA Bill Yan reflected on the experience with humour. Picture: Che Chorley

In the next shot, the croc is legging it to the billabong.

Mr Yan said while he felt “relatively safe”, in the moment he thought “bloody hell what do I do now?”

“It was a bit of a scary feeling being that close to a croc and up a tree,” he said.

He said while he exercised being Crocwise, noted the encounter was a reminder crocs lurked away from the water.

“What I didn’t realise, we’re coming into nesting season so the crocs are back away from the water,” he said.

“It’s something to file away in the memory banks.

The croc crawling to the billabong. Picture: Bill Yan

The croc was about 3.5m. Picture: Bill Yan

“I’ve spent a lot of time outdoors. Even though I live in Alice, any opportunity I try to get out for a flick. I spend a lot of time in the bush and am always pretty cautious but our way we’re looking out for snakes.

“The reptiles here are a bit bigger than our reptiles.”

Despite the initial hurdle, Mr Yan went on to have productive day of fishing, catching half a dozen barramundi. He did have a second encounter with a croc but not as dramatic as the first.

“I hooked a barra and I dragged it over the weed line. As I brought it about 15m out from the edge, a freshie came screaming across the billabong trying to eat my fish,” he said.

“It was pretty keen.”

The freshie didn’t succeed but kept a close eye on Mr Yan’s fishing activities for an opportunity to catch a snack.

Mr Yan said he’d had multiple encounters with crocs over the years, particularly while volunteering with the Barra Classic on the Daly River.

He said while the experience was nerve-racking, it made for an entertaining tale.