Tourists watch 'another victim' along famous Aussie road after 4WD warning
The mishap comes as authorities urge 4WD motorists to be careful when going off road.
It might be short, but it could be Australia's most notorious stretch of road. And this shows why.
A ute has had to be fished out of croc infested waters after a mishap while making its way over Cahills Crossing. The road, through the Northern Territory's East Alligator River is world famous for its local inhabitants, with dozens of crocodiles calling the section of river home.
The ute was being dragged by a truck this week when the towing rope snapped and it was swept into the water with two men inside. As the men clamoured on top of the roof a woman filmed the incident unfold.
"Don't get out of the car, don't get out of the car," she could be heard saying in a video obtained by Nine News.
The truck which was towing the ute then returned to rescue the two men, leaving the Toyota Hilux behind.
Footage of the aftermath shows another ute driver wade into the river as a crocodile lurks nearby while a local man behind the camera casually provides commentary for the scene.
"There's a crocodile in the middle of the road," he says. "The car's just got washed off ... it's the top of the tide."
The crocodile appears completely unperturbed as a second ute drives towards it trying to cross.
"It would be 12 or 14 feet," the man says of the animal.
Child climbs into Aussie lagoon with predator submerged beneath
Tourists slammed for 'remarkably stupid' act at Cahills Crossing
According to the local, it's about the tenth time this year a vehicle has been washed off or become stuck at the crossing. He initially assumed the driver had taken the slightly submerged bridge too fast and lost traction. "You go too fast, you lose traction and you're gone."
However Nine News later confirmed the ute had become stuck after the towing accident.
Dozens of tourists could be seen watching on as the ute, momentarily abandoned, sat idle in the river. "Another victim to Cahills Crossing – the most dangerous piece of road in the country," the local said.
Parks Australia said in a statement the vehicle has since been removed after the incident, before rangers were able to attend the scene.
"Traditional Owners at Kakadu National Park have expressed disappointment at this visitor behaviour, which puts everyone involved at risk of injury or death," it said.
Warning over risky 4WD behaviour
The accident comes as authorities warn 4WD motorists setting out on trips to be careful and not take risks when heading off-road with an increase in rescue call-outs expected this school holidays.
The warning comes after one driver attempting a risky night-time river crossing required rescuing after becoming wedged between rocks in the Warren River at Moon's Crossing near Northcliffe, about 340 kilometres south of Perth.
The driver had reportedly chosen the wrong route through the river crossing, causing the car's wheels to get lodged among the rocks.
"I've never had anything this bad before that we couldn't get out," a vehicle rescue operator told the ABC. "He's very lucky that he walked away. Especially when you're on your own and you don't know anyone else around you."
The driver, who was travelling on his own, was fortunate enough to have gotten stuck close to a popular campsite. But in a more remote area, it could have been far worse, the rescuer warned.
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