Wangi Falls closes after saltie croc attack, 80 people evacuate water including Tasmania Police detective

A Tasmania Police detective has told how she helped save others, including children, after a terrifying crocodile attack in the Northern Territory that injured a man.

A Tasmania Police detective has told how she helped save others, including children, after a terrifying crocodile attack in the Northern Territory.

Senior Constable Taneka Starr, who is based in the state’s north-west, was on holiday swimming with her family in Wangi Falls in Litchfield National Park about 11.30am Monday when fellow onlookers raised the alarm.

“My family and children were swimming in the water when people started yelling for everyone to get out,” she said.

“We formed a circle together to make sure we all made it out of the water safely as a group, especially the children.

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

“We then saw that a man had suffered injuries to his arm and together my sisters and I provided first aid.

“I’m so glad that everyone was ok. It was a pretty terrifying experience.”

The man was waiting for ambulance crews to arrive on Monday afternoon after the attack at Wangi Falls an hour south of Darwin, in the scenic Litchfield National Park.

The site is popular with tourists during the dry season, with many flocking to the waters over the holiday period.

An Environment, Parks and Water Security Department spokeswoman said an off-duty nurse helped the man – believed to be in his 60s – after the attack and St John NT crews were on their way.

Wangi Falls was full of people on July 10, when a man was attacked by a crocodile. Picture: Darren Dans

However a St John NT spokeswoman said crews did not respond to the incident as Batchelor Health Clinic staff transported the man from the area.

A witness who helped the man said she had seen one crocodile in the water but other people had seen two.

Ms Starr was visiting from Tasmania and swimming with about 80 other people in the falls when she heard the commotion.

“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.

“(It was) terrifying.”

Ms Starr said the man suffered scratches and an “open flesh wound” on his arm.

She said the man was “in shock” but was ”downplaying it” because his grandkids were with him.

Ms Starr estimated the croc was about 3m but couldn’t say if it was a freshie or saltie.

Wangi Falls has closed to the public less than a month after it was opened for the Dry season.

The popular swimming spot has since been closed for safety reasons.

NT Health has been contacted for comment.

It comes just days after popular thermal swimming spot Bitter Springs was closed because of a croc sighting.

This year alone at least four crocodile attacks have been reported, including a teenager bitten on the leg while escaping floodwaters.

A 19-year-old fought a 5.4m saltie on Groote Eylandt and lived to tell the tale, while a worker at a popular crocodile enclosure was bitten on the arm while working.

According to the Crocodile Management Team, 166 crocodiles have been pulled from NT waterways this year, including a 3.4m saltwater croc from Wangi Falls in January.

A 4.5m beast was also captured from the Elizabeth River boat ramp in June.

In 2014 a Russian tourist was attacked by a freshwater croc and in 2019 two swimmers were “nipped” while swimming in Wangi Falls.

Originally published as Wangi Falls closes after saltie croc attack, 80 people evacuate water including Tasmania Police detective