Croc tour operator speaks after being bitten by 2.2m saltie on Adelaide River
A split second decision has led to a tour operator having his arm and hand bitten by an opportunistic crocodile on the Adelaide River.
Northern Territory
Don't miss out on the headlines from Northern Territory. Followed categories will be added to My News.
A SPLIT second decision has led to a tour operator having his arm and hand bitten by an opportunistic crocodile.
Adelaide River Cruises director Sean Dealy’s decision to reach down into the water of the Adelaide River to retrieve a hook led to a 2.2m croc launching itself out of the water and biting him on the arm.
Mr Dealy said it was a stupid mistake and something he would never normally do.
“It was a bit of complacency,” he said.
“I just didn’t really look.”
He said he would normally use a boat hook to retrieve things from the water but instinctively reached down instead.
Mr Dealy said he was feeding some birds of prey chicken off cuts when he knocked the pole into the water and then went to grab it.
“It was hiding behind me. It grabbed onto my forearm. I lifted it into the air and it tried to grab me again and then fell down,” Mr Dealy said.
Mr Dealy is now recovering in hospital after having surgery to repair a severed tendon in his right arm and to clean out the wound to stop infection.
It’s expected it will take about six weeks to heal.
Mr Dealy said he knocked the bait pole into the water on Monday during his 1pm cruise.
He said he was keeping an eye on a large croc at the other end of the boat when he was bitten by the smaller female croc.
He said he’d seen the croc around before.
“I’m not stupid and I do respect crocodiles. I just reacted to pick something up quickly. I don’t normally do that, I put my arm over the side and as soon as I did that it was done,” he said.
About 12 people were on the cruise and witnessed the shocking incident.
Mr Dealy said after the incident he ended the cruise, drove back to the ramp, saw everyone off and made his way to Royal Darwin Hospital.
He said an angry dog would have caused more damage than the croc he was bitten by.
“A pit bull would have done more damage,” he said.
A wild Red Centre: Police and rangers wrangle loose horses
A number of horses are in the hands of a Red Centre turf club after their brief sojourn in the streets of suburban Alice Springs. Read the latest.
‘Best garrison city’: Army to give sneak peek behind scenes in Darwin
In a bid to inspire the next generation of Diggers, Robertson Barracks will open its gates to the public for the first time in five years, with “world-class” military demonstrations organised for the event. Read what the commander said.