An Australian farmer feels he is fortunate to still be alive after biting back at a crocodile to thwart its attack.
After being bitten by a 3.2-meter (10-foot) saltwater crocodile in the Northern Territory, cattle rancher Colin Deveraux spent a month in the hospital.
In an attempt to survive, he bit the crocodile’s eyelid, he told ABC News.
Mr. Deveraux said his ordeal started when he pulled over at a billabong (lake) in order to construct fence close to the Finniss River last month,
Fish swimming in the midst of the lake’s receding waters caused him to stop by the water.
Upon taking another step back, the crocodile “latched” onto his right foot, causing him to tremble akin to a “rag doll” and dragging him into the water.
Mr. Deveraux told ABC that before biting the crocodile back, he attempted to kick it in the ribs with his other foot.
“I was in such an awkward position… but by accident my teeth caught his eyelid. It was pretty thick, like holding onto leather, but I jerked back on his eyelid and he let go.
“I leapt away and took off with great steps up to where my car was. He chased me for a bit, maybe four metres, but then stopped.”
Mr. Deveraux said he used a towel and some rope to stop the bleeding in his leg, before his brother drove him 130km (80 miles) north to the Royal Darwin Hospital.
“If he [the crocodile] had bitten me somewhere else it would have been different,” he said.
“It means I’ve got to change what I do. I’ve been walking around that swamp country too long fixing fences and living life, but it’s opened my eyes.”
The Northern Territory’s main sector depends on crocodiles, which are legally protected, according to the local government.
In addition to being a valuable tourist attraction, they are thought to be of great scientific and human interest
The Kennedy River in the Cape York Peninsula of Queensland saw the most recent deadly crocodile attack in April of this year.
Source-BBC
