Man attacked by crocodile at popular NT swimming spot
Around 80 people evacuated the water after a crocodile attacked a man in front of his family.
A man has reportedly been attacked by a crocodile at a popular tourist spot in the Northern Territory on Monday afternoon, prompting dozens of visitors to evacuate the water.
The man, understood to be aged in his 60s, was swimming at Wangi Falls in Litchfield National Park, about an hour south of Darwin, when a crocodile attacked his arm, a witness told NT News.
Visitors witness croc attack
Taneka Starr, a visitor from Tasmania, was one of about 80 people who ran from the water. She said the man had an “open flesh wound” and scratches on his arm.
“He saw the croc and warned another man which diverted the croc back to him,” Ms Starr told the NT News.
“People on the viewing platform were screaming at us to get out of the water, which we all did. (It was) terrifying.”
She estimated the crocodile was around 3m in length, and said the man was putting on a brave face as his grandchildren were with him.
Another family who arrived at the falls just after the attack described the scenes following the attack.
“Someone said there was a croc and someone had been bitten, our first reaction was that we didn't believe them,” the Warwick family wrote on their Facebook page.
“There was a man sitting near us with his arm getting bandaged and apparently he had been bitten! I saw a vid of the croc and it certainly wasn't what I would call small.
“When we left there were people that had obviously been closer to the waterfall that were still perched on rocks waiting on someone to put a boat in to come get them. We decided a swim in the caravan park pool would suit us a little better today lol. What a welcome to the NT huh!”
Others who visited the park yesterday expressed relief at their close call.
It is unclear if it was a saltwater or freshwater croc.
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Authorities advise not to enter the water
Northern Territory Parks and Wildlife said Wangi Falls has been closed following “unconfirmed reports” of a crocodile-related incident.
“Please obey all closures and do not enter the water,” they wrote on their Facebook page.
It comes just four days after the closure of another popular top end spot, Bitter Springs at Elsey National Park, due to a saltwater crocodile sighting.
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