A snorkeller in Australia whose entire head was clamped by the powerful jaws of a crocodile has spoken of his desperate fight to free himself from the reptile’s vice-like grip. Authorities are now trying to track down the beast, which struck off an exclusive island off the country’s Gold Coast in what is the fifth such attack in less than two months.
Marcus McGowan, 51, was one of a group, including his wife, located roughly 17 miles from Haggerston Island in Cape York on Saturday when the crocodile struck.
He explained: “While checking out some coral and fish and talking to a fellow snorkeller, I was attacked from behind by a saltwater crocodile which got its jaws around my head.”
Incredibly, Mr McGowan, who initially thought he was being attacked by a shark, managed to free himself, but the crocodile lunged towards him a second time, and in pushing it away his hand was bitten.
He was unable to estimate its size accurately but suggested it was likely to have been a juvenile.
Afterwards he was rushed to Haggerstone Island and given first aid by a friend.
He added: “An emergency helicopter arrived to transport me to Thursday Island Hospital for treatment, where I was assessed; and I was later taken to Cairns Hospital for further treatment to my scalp lacerations and puncture wounds on my head and hand.”
Keen surfer Mr McGowan said he bore no ill will to the creature, explaining: “I understand that when you enter the marine environment, you are entering territory that belongs to potentially dangerous animals, such as sharks and crocodiles.”
In a statement, the Queensland Department of Environment said an investigation into the incident was underway and that it was working to “obtain further information.”
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The statement warned: “Crocodiles in the open ocean can be difficult to locate as the animals often travel tens of kilometres per day.
“We investigate all crocodile sighting reports that we receive.”
Haggerstone Island Resort is about 350 kilometres north of Cairns and bills itself as a “family-owned, exclusive luxury resort that caters to high-end clientele”.
The island can be hired out for £4,000 a night and features snorkelling and spear-fishing tours.
In February, wildlife officers killed a 4.2-metre crocodile which attacked a man and ate his dog at a boat ramp at Bloomfield, south of Cooktown.
Two months later, publican Kevin Darmody was killed by a crocodile during a fishing trip at Lakefield National Park in Cape York.
Also in April, a 65-year-old man was bitten on the foot by a crocodile as he slept on Newell Beach, while a man in his 40s suffered serious head, leg and abdominal injuries after being attacked while spearfishing at Archer Point, near Cooktown the same month.
Meanwhile, conservationists want people who “recklessly” ignore crocodile warnings to face fines in the future, with the Queensland government considering the proposal.
Kristina Ward, a managing lawyer with the Environmental Defenders Office (EDO), said: “We shouldn’t need legislative reform, but we do, and as more and more people are able to access croc country, as more of our bush is opened up to tourism, more incidents like this are going to arise.”
There was no suggestion Mr McGowan had ignored any warnings himself.