Cahills Crossing tourists escape crocodiles after car washed downstream

Why did the tourists cross the road? See pictures of how the NT’s most notorious crossing claimed its latest victim.

TERRITORY tourists have made a lucky escape after their car was washed down an Arnhem Highway floodway, much to the disappointment of the Cahills Crossing crocs.

A Jabiru resident said on Thursday morning a hire car was washed off the Cahills Crossing by the incoming high tide at East Alligator River.

He said the travellers were able to escape and get to dry land, without “being eaten by crocodiles”.

The red hire care was completely pushed off the road, with the water rising above the wheels.

The notorious road is prone to tidal floods which surge between a low of 0.8m to height of 6m.

This is not the first time the salties have nearly snacked on unsuspecting motorists trapped by the tides.

In November 2020, a stranded group was forced to walk across the causeway, with one person slipping into Australia’s deadliest bodies of water.

Kakadu National Park said more than 50 crocs have been counted in to 400m stretch of river between Cahills Crossing and the East Alligator River upstream boat ramp, with around five to nine crocodiles per kilometre.

Each year Cahills Crossing claims dozens of cars with drivers misjudging the dangerous mix of tidal movement, swift waters and crocodiles.

NT Police Senior Sergeant John Ginnane said the “notorious” crossing has resulted in at least five deaths, with the most recent fatality in 2017.

“Over the years, countless vehicles have been washed off, with drivers and passengers requiring rescue by either locals or authorities,” Sgt Ginnane said.

He said police always warned motorists to drive to your capability and that of your vehicle.

“Driving across Cahill’s requires skill, experience and a 4WD vehicles,” Sgt Ginnane said.

“It is not something that should be attempted by tourists, and especially not by inexperienced tourists in a small car.

“If you require rescue, you will also be putting others’ lives at risk.”

He said travellers needed a permit from the Northern Land Council to enter Arnhem Land if they were not a resident.

“For visitors to the region, Cahill’s Crossing is best experienced from the safety of the viewing platform on the Kakadu side,” Sgt Ginnane said.