‘Large crocodile’ mauls man in 20s at popular tourist spot | World | News
A huge crocodile mauled a young man at a busy tourist spot in a horror attack that saw him airlifted to hospital.
The man, in his 20s, was mauled by a “large crocodile” off Australia’s west coast on Saturday (April 18). The coastline is popular with tourists both in Australia and around the world for its long, pristine white sand beaches and beautiful scenery.
The horrific attack took place on a beach in the Kimberley near Hidden Creek in Western Australia (WA) on the Dampier Peninsula, about 2300 miles north of the state’s capital Perth. This spot is known across Australia and the world for its long, pristine beaches.
The campsite where the attack occurred is popular with tourists and is located about 50 kilometers north of Broome. WA’s coast is full of tidal creeks, mangroves and rivers, making it an important habitat for aggressive saltwater crocodiles.
The WA Country Health Service said the man was initially taken to Broome Hospital in a stable condition before being flown from Broome to the Royal Perth Hospital via the Royal Flying Doctor Service on Sunday. RFDS provides urgent or emergency medical assistance to those living in the most remote parts of the Australian outback.
A Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions spokesperson told news.com.au the incident was reported on Monday. The spokesman added that they were investigating the incident and were already in contact with the man’s family.
The horrific mauling marks the second crocodile attack reported in the Kimberley in less than five months. A man survived an attack in January but was left with serious injuries after an encounter with a three-metre saltwater crocodile near the remote La Djadarr Bay Community.
Saltwater crocodiles are common along the Kimberley coast and are known to inhabit beaches, creeks and tidal waterways. They are much more aggressive than their freshwater cousins and can grow up to six meters in length. “Salties”, as they are locally called, live along the coast and near estuaries, while freshers prefer inland rivers and billabongs or inland lakes and dams.
Saltwaters are the world’s largest living reptile and are responsible for most crocodile attacks in Australia.
More than 600,000 British tourists visit Australia each year, with more than 605,000 arriving in 2024; This is an increase of almost 8% compared to 2023. Around 80,000 Britons are on working holiday visas, according to data from Camper Champ, and changes to visas for young Brits are causing a boom in backpacker travel.
Crocodiles are among the oldest living reptiles on Earth; ancestral forms emerged 200 million years ago, while modern crocodilians emerged approximately 83.5 million years ago. They are considered living fossils that survived the extinction event that killed the dinosaurs.
