An Australian teenager is recovering after being attacked by a crocodile last weekend while fishing in waist-deep water, multiple outlets, including The Guardian and Sky News Australia, reported.
Attack Occurred on Saturday Afternoon
The terrifying incident occurred at Myall Beach, in Queensland, around 3:50 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 25. According to a spokesperson from the Department of the Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation (DETSI), the unidentified 14-year-old was fishing in waist-deep water when he was attacked by the crocodile, sustaining injuries to his torso and leg. It happened near PKs Jungle Village resort, where a number of locals were luckily on site. “People came out of the rainforest to help,” resort manager Harry Hartley said. “The Cape community came together.”
After nurses from the resort applied first aid, the teenager was airlifted to Cairns Hospital. He is currently in stable condition, according to a spokesperson from the Cairns and Hinterland Hospital and Health Service. The young man was reportedly fishing alongside two other companions when the attack occurred.
Locals Aided the Victim Immediately
PKs Jungle Village confirmed in an email to People that locals and resort staff immediately came to the boy’s aid, carrying him off of the beach and onto the resort property so that he could be immediately treated. “He was in our care until any paramedics could arrive,” the spokesperson confirmed. “His 14-year-old friend was also taken care of that was in the water with him at the time of the incident [sic].
“All the staff did an amazing job in looking after him,” the spokesperson continued. “PKs is the heart of Cape Tribulation and one of the first built in Cape Tribulation. Normally we are entertaining locals, tourists, families, adventurer travelers and caravans and camping. On this occasion, [it] was a little different. The young boy was very lucky that it happened on the beach and very close to PKs beachfront property. There is a boardwalk that links the beach directly to PKs, so there wasn’t far to go.”
Officials Are Still Hunting the Crocodile
DETSI officials are still searching for any crocodiles in the area following the incident, but there have been no sightings as of yet. A department spokesperson confirmed that the 14-year-old’s injuries were “consistent with a crocodile attack.” The incident is also being investigated by the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service. Throughout the month of October, four crocodiles have been spotted on Cape Tribulation, with a sighting from Wednesday, Oct. 22, also being investigated.
