Australian man successfully fights off crocodile with pocket knife

A 60-year-old man from Queensland, Australia, managed to save himself by escaping the jaws of a large crocodile after he repeatedly stabbed it in the head with his pocket knife as it dragged him into a river, according to local authorities on Wednesday. 

The injured man drove himself to hospital after surviving a terrifying attack on a remote riverbank in Australia’s far northern Cape York Peninsula, the Queensland state environment department said in a statement. 

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Last week, the man went fishing on his property near Hope Vale, about five hours from Cairns, and shooed a bull off the riverbank so he could take over. Then, the crocodile struck.

“He described seeing the crocodile seconds before it lunged at him, knocking him over as he was about to cast his fishing rod,” the department said in a statement.

As the crocodile’s jaws wrapped around his boots, he grabbed a branch of a mangrove tree in a desperate attempt to stay out of the river. However, he soon lost the tug-of-war and was dragged in.

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“The man said that as he entered the water, he managed to retrieve his knife from his belt and stabbed the crocodile in its head until it let him go.”

After that, the man hurried up the bank and drove to Cooktown Hospital for medical attention. He was then airlifted to Cairns Hospital, where he is still currently recovering a week later. 

His injuries were consistent with a crocodile attack, according to wildlife officers who interviewed him on Tuesday. 

They would not attempt to capture the reptile, which is thought to have been drawn to the area by the presence of the bull, due to its remote location. 

Since they were declared a protected species in 1971, the number of saltwater crocodiles has exploded, and recent attacks have reignited debate about how to control them.

The “salties,”  are a common sight in the tropical north of the vast continent. 

The area is known as “croc country,” and while attacks are common, they are rarely fatal. Residents and visitors are advised to stay away from waterways.