A Groote Eylandt teenager was trapped between a croc’s jaws

A tough-as-nails Territory teen has revealed how he fought off a 5.4m croc that had him in its jaws as it waited for him to die. Read the incredible story.

A Groote Eylandt teenager has lived to share his terrifying encounter with a 5.4m crocodile.

The apex predator attacked the teen from behind, tried to lift him from the water to perform a death-roll and then held him between his jaws in the water, waiting for him to die.

Nineteen-year-old Zefha Butcher was fishing in waters near Malkala Outstation beach with 10-year-old brother Charles and adult cousin Travis when the attack occurred.

And the youngster is being hailed a hero by relatives who said Zefha put the welfare of his brother and cousin before himself and in the process showed incredible resolve to stay alive.

Zefha said the ordeal began about 8pm on a still night in mid-May as the group waded through Malkala Beach looking for fish.

Zefha Butcher survived a 5.4m crocodile attack at Malkala Outstation near Groote

He said he sensed the presence of a crocodile when the fish they had been pursuing suddenly disappeared.

“Yeah bro, it was a really big one attacked me from the back of the leg,” Zefha said.

“When we were first walking in the water I saw a couple of fish swimming, then there were lots of fish everywhere, then they disappeared.

Zefha Butcher survived a 5.4m crocodile attack at Malkala Outstation near Groote

“The water was murky and we were walking through about eight oclock at night, then I felt a bump on the back of my leg.

“It was hard, like being hit by a car. Then it grabbed me at the top of my waist between my hip bone and thigh and tried to lift me out of the water then fling me into the water in a death roll.

“I was too big and he couldn’t lift me. He had me in the saltwater ... while he tried to do a roll but I was too big and he couldn’t roll me.”

Zefha Butcher survived a 5.4m crocodile attack at Malkala Outstation near Groote

As Zefha was trying to fight off the croc, Travis and Charles fled to the safety of the bank and went for help.

Zefha, meanwhile, was eventually able to position himself between the crocodiles jaws to be able to poke the reptile in an eye.

“It took a couple of tries but I was able to get with my thumb first and it didn’t let go then I got it an eye with my finger and it opened its mouth.”

Zehfa made his way to the shore and his father came in a LandCruiser and taken 200km to Gove Hospital.

Zehfa had punctures to his legs, thighs and hand and said his treatment was mainly wound sterilisation.

He was released from hospital after several days of treatment and is now back at Groote living his best life, having made an amazing escape.

“I was just lucky I was too big for him to flip me,” he said.

Rangers captured and euthanased 5.4m croc not far from Milkala Beach several days after the attack.

“He’d been killing dogs who came to the water and was big,” Zefha said.

Rangers confirmed it was the same crocodile by the white finger mark in its eye.

Originally published as A Groote Eylandt teenager was trapped between a croc’s jaws