A man who was attacked by a crocodile while snorkelling in the Far North claims the reptile had it’s jaws around his head.
Marcus McGowan was taken to Cairns Hospital after he was bitten by a crocodile near Haggerstone Island on Saturday afternoon.
The Gold Coast man says he was snorkelling his wife and a group of friends when he was attacked from behind by a 2-3 metre saltwater crocodile.
“I thought it was a shark but when I reached up I realised it was a crocodile,” Mr McGowan says.
“I was able to lever its jaws open just far enough to get my head out.
“The crocodile then attempted to attack me a second time, but I managed to push it away with my right hand, which was then bitten by the croc.”
He managed to escape the crocodile’s grip once again and swam to the safety.
Mr McGowan says he knew the risks of croc country and was simply in the wrong place, at the wrong time.
“I’m just grateful it was me and not one of the kids or ladies in the group,” he says.
“I want to thank everyone who has helped me during this ordeal, including staff at Haggerstone Island Resort, rescue helicopter crew, Royal Flying Doctor Service, Thursday Island and Cairns hospitals.”
The Department of Environment and Science is investigating.
