Couple rescued from Wangi Falls after man mauled in croc attack

The wait continues until a popular Top End water hole reopens following a terrifying crocodile attack earlier this week.

It is still unknown when a popular water hole will reopen to the public after a crocodile mauled a swimmer on Monday.

The 2.4m croc has since been killed by authorities after attacking a 67-year-old man and forcing more than 80 swimmers to flee the waters of Wangi Falls.

The man remains in hospital in a stable condition following the attack in which he was bitten on the arm.

A Department of Environment, Parks and Water Security spokeswoman confirmed on Thursday that the pool remained closed following the attack.

“Access to the pool remains closed. Crocodile surveys will be undertaken prior to reopening,” she said.

“There is a zero tolerance approach to crocodiles in the area with swimming areas subject to regular spotlight surveys and trapping.”

Joel and Meghan Bennett were rescued by two men in a tinnie at Wangi Falls after another man was attacked by a 2m croc in the water.

The Litchfield National Park site, situated about an hour south of Darwin, is a popular spot for tourists and locals during the dry season, particularly the midyear holiday period.

It is a barrier and removal zone which is where natural or artificial barriers are used so swimming holes and pools can be surveyed and declared low risk for recreation.

It comes as Anindilyakwa Land and Sea Rangers confirmed saltwater crocodiles had been spotted in waterholes around Groote, with fresh slide marks at Leske Pools.

“Please be aware that saltwater crocodiles may be present in waterholes around the Groote Archipelago including salt and fresh water,” a post read on their Facebook page.

“Please be cautious in the area.”

This year alone at least four crocodile attacks have been reported with one biting a 19-year-old on Groote Eylandt.

The frequency of sightings and attacks has reignited the crocodile cull debate.

‘It made a beeline for us’: Couple stranded for hour after croc attack

A New South Wales couple was stranded on a rock for an hour while waiting to be rescued from a rogue saltwater crocodile in the depths of Wangi Falls after it attacked a fellow swimmer.

The croc, which mauled a 67-year-old man, has since been killed by authorities.

Joel and Meghan Bennett, from Old Bar on the NSW Mid-Coast, were “blissfully enjoying a swim” during their Top End getaway when the pair heard other swimmers screaming at them to flee the cool waters.

“We could hear people yelling out that there was a crocodile and I’m immediately like, eyes looking everywhere, where is it, and notice its head probably about 15m from where I was at the time,” Mrs Bennett said.

“I was standing on a rock – still in the water – when Joel swam to where I was and that’s when we noticed the croc had turned towards us and it sort of looked like it made a beeline for us and was sort of picking up pace.”

Joel and Meghan Bennett were stranded on a rock for about an hour while they waited for rescue.

Mrs Bennett said the pair had only just been on a croc tour a few days ago.

“I was like, I know what these things can do so we need to get out of the water,” she said.

“Even if you’re knee-deep in the water it’s not really safe.

“They can jump, they’re strong creatures, very powerful, so I wasn’t keen to stick around in the water.”

Joel and Meghan Bennett were rescued by two men in a tinnie at Wangi Falls after another man was attacked by a 2m croc in the water.

While Mrs Bennett said she was “terrified”, her husband was less worried because he originally thought the animal was “probably just a freshwater croc”.

“Then when I saw it coming straight for us, that’s a bit of a concern,” he said.

Mr Bennett said he and his wife had originally climbed onto a low rock but decided to climb higher in case the croc left the water.

“We were only just above water level at first so thought, to be safe try and get up on a higher one,” he said.

“There was a few other people around a bit further and they gradually made their way around the edge.

“But from where we were, we would have had to swim through the water a bit to get back.”

Tasmania Police Detective Taneka Starr assisted a man following a crocodile attack in a swimming hole in the Northern Territory. Picture: Tasmania Police

The couple was among about 80 people enjoying the idyllic cascades when the first warning cry caused swimmers to flee the waters en masse.

An off-duty Tassie cop visiting the waterhole said a 67-year-old man was attacked by the beast and suffered scratches and an “open flesh wound” on his arm.

Taneka Starr said she had seen one crocodile in the water but other people had seen two.

“He saw the croc and warned another man which diverted the croc back to him,” she said.

“People on the viewing platform were screaming at us to get out of the water, which we all did.

“My family and children were swimming in the water when people started yelling … we formed a circle together to make sure we all made it out of the water safely as a group, especially the children.

“(It was) terrifying.”

Swimmers stranded after a croc sighting and attack at Wangi Falls. Picture: Michael Hickman

The man was helped by an off-duty nurse in the area while he waited for St John NT ambulance crews to arrive.

An NT Health spokeswoman said the man was now in a stable condition at Royal Darwin Hospital.

A croc was spotted at Wangi Falls just before a man was attacked on July 10. Picture: Michael Hickman

Rangers have confirmed the saltie involved in the attack at Wangi Falls has been killed.

The 2.4m male saltwater crocodile was euthanised at Wangi Falls overnight.

Department of Environment, Parks and Water Security director of northern Australian parks Dean McAdam said the falls remained closed while surveys would be undertaken prior to reopening.

“We work hard to reduce the risk of crocodiles in the management zones, however there is always the chance they can move into an area undetected,” he said

“Public safety is our key priority, so please obey all closures and do not enter the water while we are completing the crocodile surveys.”

Several Territorians voiced their horror on Facebook, with many suggesting the attack would deter them from swimming at the site in future.

“The few times I’ve swam in there I’ve always felt uneasy, no bloody wonder,” one user wrote.

“Looking back I can’t believe I even had my feet in the water,” another wrote.