Crocodile spotted metres off popular Queensland beach
A large crocodile has been spotted at a Far North Queensland beach.
Police were called to Four Mile Beach, Port Douglas on Tuesday about 4pm after the croc was seen swimming in the surf.
“As the croc couldn’t be spotted from the beach the SLSQ (Surf Life Saving Queensland) team sent a drone up to investigate with a 3.5 metre crocodile located swimming about 20 metres from shore,” police said.
The beach was closed but the croc's presence quickly became a tourist attraction, with hundreds of people lining up at a safe distance to watch it swim past.
Crocs are often spotted in the surf in winter and spring as they move between river mouths.
Warning after crocodile bite at popular tourist swimming spot
Tourist opens up on 'idiotic' act at notorious croc crossing
The beach reopened on Wednesday and there haven’t been any further sightings.
On Facebook, people marvelled at the croc swimming just metres from the picturesque beach.
“Crocs in their natural environment,” one woman wrote.
“Just stunning.”
Others added it had put them off swimming for the winter.
“Maybe we’ll just skip Port Douglas for a while…” one woman wrote.
SLSQ reminded everyone to swim between the flags.
It added “our surf life savers are continually observing and monitoring”.
Crocs are known to pop up in popular swimming spots in Queensland.
In April last year, a crocodile was seen at Bingil Bay Beach, north of Mission Beach in north Queensland, as children swam nearby.
A crocodile was shot at Cable Beach in Broome, in WA in January, sparking anger after graphic photos emerged online.
With AAP
Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com.
You can also follow us on Facebook, download the Yahoo News app from iTunes or Google Play and stay up to date with the latest news with Yahoo’s daily newsletter. Sign up here.
