A spearfisherman who was mauled by a four-and-a-half-metre long crocodile shoved his fingers into the animal's eyes to break free of its grip.
The 44-year-old man was attacked by the reptile while he was swimming at a headland in Queensland, Australia, last Saturday.
Despite being bitten three times and dragged below the water's surface, the man managed to free himself by gouging the croc's eyes repeatedly.
Valerie Noble, of Queensland Ambulance Service, said: "(The croc) has bitten him three times and dragged him to the bottom.
"He's managed to - according to him - stick his fingers in the crocodile's eyes multiple times and escape before swimming towards the shore.
"He's an extremely lucky man, not many people would live to tell a story like that."
The man had been swimming with a group of six mates, who managed to apply first aid before emergency services arrived.
The fisherman suffered multiple fractures, as well as severe injuries to his head, abdomen and leg.
Despite the horror, the man is said to be in good spirits and in a stable condition.
The Queensland Department of Environment and Science will now investigate the attack and confirm if the crocodile is still in the area.
It comes after a 65-year-old man was attacked by a crocodile as he slept on a beach in Australia.
The man was resting on the sand when he was bitten on the foot near Port Douglas, Queensland.
