An Australian man narrowly escaped death after a crocodile sunk its teeth into his head while he was snorkeling.
In a remarkable display of courage and quick thinking, he managed to survive this rare attack by prying the reptile’s jaws open.
Marcus McGowan, an avid surfer and diver, was enjoying the crystal-clear waters near a remote island in Northern Australia with his wife and friends when he suddenly felt an excruciating pain as something clamped its powerful jaws around his head. Initially mistaking it for a shark, McGowan quickly realized the terrifying truth—it was a crocodile.
Without hesitation, McGowan sprang into action, using all his strength to pry open the reptile’s jaws just enough to free his head from its deadly grip. But the battle was far from over. The determined crocodile lunged again, aiming for another strike. McGowan, bravely fought it off with his bare hands. Despite his injuries he was able to swim back to the boat that had transported him to the dive site.
The injured McGowan was immediately transported 45 minutes away to Haggerstone Island, a private island resort, and later airlifted to a regional hospital. His head and hands bore the evidence of his harrowing encounter—a series of cuts and puncture wounds. Reflecting on the incident, he expressed gratitude that fate had chosen him as the target instead of one of his companions.
Although the attack happened so quickly that detailed observation was challenging, McGowan estimated that the crocodile was a juvenile, measuring approximately 6 1/2 to almost 10 feet in length. It’s worth noting that saltwater crocodiles, commonly known as “salties,” can grow up to a monstrous 20 feet long and weigh a staggering 2200 pounds.
Billy Collett, Operations Manager at Australia Reptile Park, informed The Guardian that fighting back during a crocodile attack often scares the reptiles away. McGowan’s brave response likely played a crucial role in his survival.
The Queensland Science Department, currently investigating the incident, emphasized the significance of promptly reporting such attacks. They underscored that immediate reporting of crocodile sightings and incidents is critical, given the challenges of locating these creatures in the vast open ocean where they can cover several miles per day. Saltwater crocodiles are predominantly found in the warmer regions of Northern Australia, and it’s estimated that around 100,000 of these formidable reptiles call the country home, according to the Australian government.
