Dog Banjo back in the water after surviving croc attack

A beloved staffy that made a lucky escape after being bitten by a crocodile has returned to frolicking in the ocean.

BANJO, the croc-attack staffy, is back in the water exactly a month after he nearly became lunch to one of the ever-hungry reptiles.

Retired electrician Tom Cummins was walking Banjo along Casuarina Beach last month when he heard a yelp and saw his beloved dog in the crocodile’s mouth.

“I just heard a bit of a yelp and looked around and a croc had him in his jaws,” Tom said. “Banjo turned as quick as a flash and bit the croc and it let him go straightaway.”

The vet didn’t stitch Banjo, instead opting to let the wounds heal naturally – a cosmetic blemish Tom thinks the dog won’t mind. “They’ll be good for helping him pick up girls,” he said.

Tom Cummins with staffy Banjo who returned to the beach after surviving a crocodile attack. Picture: Glenn Campbell

Tom made a similar forecast on Banjo’s behalf after the attack – but the closest he came to romance was a brief dalliance with a Today show cameraman’s leg.

As for Tom, there are drawbacks and advantages to owning a dog that survives a croc attack. “I pretty much took the limelight from him on TV. Today Show wanted an interview at 4.45 – I didn’t get that it was 4.45am – and the vision must have gone global because my daughter said the footage has been in the US, Japan, Korea.”

Tom reckons Banjo’s had his 15-minutes of fame and while keeping an eye out will continue to take Banjo to the beach.

“It’s a one-in-a-million he’ll be attacked again. He loved being back today, flying up and down the beach like a kid getting out of school.”

NOVEMBER

A DARWIN dog had a lucky escape after a crocodile slithered through water and took a bite of its rump.

On Monday morning Banjo the staffy was out for a walk with owner Tom Cummins at Casuarina Beach when the hectic incident unfolded.

“He went for a bit of a dip in the shallow part of the sea,” Mr Cummins said.

“I heard a bit of a yelp and a croc had grabbed hold of him, had him in its mouth.”

Mr Cummins said Banjo was having none of it and retaliated.

“He’s a fairly tough dog. He turned around and bit the croc,” he said.

“I think the croc took on more than it could chew. He let go and then Banjo came onto the beach. He looked back and the croc was still there.

“He (Banjo) walked as if nothing happened. He has some pretty bad lacerations but the worst part was the pressure of the jaws.”

Banjo the dog was attacked by a crocodile at Casuarina Beach. Picture: SUPPLIED

Mr Cummins said vets cleared Banjo of serious injuries, with the dog having to live with some discomfort for a while.

“He’s going to have to live with the scars. It’ll take a while (to heal), the pressure of the bite hurt him more,” Mr Cummins said.

“I’m sure he’ll pick up a lot of girls with those scars.”

Wildlife ranger Ian Hunt said it was a timely reminder for Territorians to be wary of themselves and their pets near waterways.

“People need to be vigilant. Crocs can be in any waterway and along beachfronts,” he said.

“There are crocs in all of our waterways.”

Mr Hunt said up to 255 crocs had been removed in the management zone thus far in 2021, typically between 2m to 3m.

He said Banjo’s story served as a warning.

“We don’t want to see this happening to loved ones or pets,” he said.

“It’s a timely reminder to look after yourself, kids and pets at the beach or waterways.”