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Close croc call for Kimberley snapper

Kimberley croc stalker Jeremy Rooke had a close call last weekend when he became bogged while out on the job.

Jeremy Rooke is used to stalking some of the Kimberley's biggest and most deadly crocodiles, but last weekend he had a taste of his own medicine.

Known as the Kimberley croc stalker, the Wyndham resident spends most of his spare time lurking at local waterways, photographing the ancient reptiles from afar.

During the past couple of years, he has photographed and filmed hundreds of crocs at locations including the lower Ord, Dunham, King, Keep and Pentecost Rivers.

Last weekend was no different, until he ended up a little too close to his subjects for comfort.

"On Saturday, I went to film crocs as usual," Mr Rooke said.

"I decided to go out to the lower Ord, which seemed to be drying out, so I thought it would be OK.

"I threw my dogs in the car and about five litres of water, thinking it was for only a few hours."

Mr Rooke said he began driving out to one of his usual spots but soon hit a bog that sunk his four-wheel-drive up to its diff.

"In 46C heat, I began digging and putting my maxi-trax under the wheels but after probably an hour of digging, I realised that the car was not moving," he said.

"I was out of mobile reception range and too far to walk in that heat.

"After some time, I decided to swallow my pride and contact a friend on my satellite communicator."

Despite making contact to a couple of friends and police, Mr Rooke said the search party was initially unable to locate him.

"I began to realise that my water supplies were inadequate and also given I was sharing it with my dogs, it went very quickly," he said.

"Day turned into night and the police spent many hours trying to reach me but were unable to and had to turn back - I was in for the night.

"I was in a swampy area and managed to keep myself and the dogs alive by collecting muddy water from the very marsh that bogged me - it didn't taste too nice, but kept us alive."

However, muddy drinking water would be the least of his worries that night.

"I think there was a crocodile near the car during the night," he said.

"My dogs alerted me to it and, while I didn't see it, I heard the jaws snap at one point.

"I guess the stalker was being stalked."

The next morning, Mr Rooke was rescued about 10am.

"Totally exhausted, I saw the most welcome sight, the police helicopter," he said.

"Out came my trusty signal mirror and they managed to land nearby.

"I must have drunk my weight in water when they arrived."

The helicopter initially lifted him to safety before his car was recovered at a later date.

Mr Rooke said, while he was undeterred to continue stalking crocodiles, the ordeal had taught him there was never room for complacency in the rugged Kimberley environment.

To view the croc stalker's work visit www.crocstalker.com or find him on Facebook or YouTube.

My dogs alerted me to it and, while I didn't see it, I heard the jaws snap at one point. Jeremy Rooke