Man escapes with minor cuts after snorkelling headfirst into crocodile in Australia

The crocodile, measuring up to two metres, “reacted defensively” when the swimmer “inadvertently” swam into it on Sunday near Lizard Island in Queensland.

A saltwater crocodile at Wildlife Syndey Zoo. Saeed Khan / AFP Photo

SYDNEY // A man who accidentally snorkelled headfirst into a crocodile in northern Australia escaped with minor injuries as wildlife officers on Monday worked to track down the reptile.

The crocodile, measuring up to two metres, “reacted defensively” when the swimmer “inadvertently” swum into it on Sunday near popular Lizard Island in Queensland.

“The man suffered minor cuts and abrasions to his head and was treated for his non-life threatening injuries on the island,” a department of environment spokesperson said.

“Wildlife officers are travelling to the area and will search the area for the crocodile responsible.”

The waters surrounding Lizard Island are a known crocodile hotspot with signs in the area cautioning swimmers of the threat.

In a separate incident on Sunday, a crocodile was found decapitated near Innisfail in Queensland, prompting authorities to warn it was illegal to kill the reptiles.

“Based on an initial inspection, the four metre animal appears to have been deceased for some time,” the department spokesperson said.

“[The Queensland Department of Environment and Heritage Protection] would like to remind the public that it is illegal to deliberately interfere with, harm or kill crocodiles without authorisation.”

Last month a fisherman was killed by a crocodile near Innisfail, while a teenager was lucky to escape with only two broken bones when a crocodile latched onto his arm after he jumped into a river in the area to impress a tourist.

Repeated attacks have lead to calls from some parts of the community for a cull of the animals, but the state government has so far resisted, saying it would have little effect on the animals’ behaviour and give people a false sense of security.

People can be fined up to Aus$27,425 (US$20,700) for killing a crocodile, which are protected.

* Agence France-Presse