A popular swimming hole in the Northern Territory has been closed after a man was bitten by a saltwater crocodile, believed to be 2 metres long.
The 67-year-old was swimming at Wangi Falls in Litchfield National Park about 11.30am local time on Monday when the reptile struck.
He is understood to have non-life threatening injuries to his arm and back.
The man was initially treated at Batchelor medical clinic before being transferred to Royal Darwin hospital, where he remains in a stable condition.
The NT Department of Environment, Parks and Water Security confirmed the attack on Monday and said access to Wangi Falls, in Litchfield national park, has been closed.
“It is estimated the crocodile is approximately 2 metres long. Rangers are working with the crocodile management team to remove the animal,” the department’s head of Northern Australian Parks, Dean McAdam said.
“Further crocodile surveys will then be undertaken prior to reopening.”
The man has been taken to hospital in a non-critical condition for medical treatment, McAdam said. He was given first aid at the scene by an off-duty Tasmanian police detective and her family, who are on holiday in the NT.
Sr Const Taneka Starr was swimming with her family at Wangi Falls at about 11.30am on Monday when the alarm was raised.
“My family and children were swimming in the water when people started yelling for everyone to get out. We formed a circle together to make sure we all made it out of the water safely as a group, especially the children,” she said in a statement.
“We then saw that a man had suffered injuries to his arm
“Together my sisters and I provided first aid. I’m so glad that everyone was OK. It was a pretty terrifying experience.”
The falls have been closed to the public, with a crocodile trap set up and rangers preparing to sweep the area for the reptile overnight. School holidays and the dry season have made Litchfield a popular tourist attraction, but it is unclear when the falls will reopen.
The Tasmanian premier, Jeremy Rockliff, has praised Starr’s efforts, saying she “showed the very best of Tasmanian spirit”.
“Not only did she ensure everyone else got out of the water safely, she also banded together with her sisters to take care of the person who was bitten,” he said.
Litchfield National Park is about 115km south of Darwin. Wangi Falls is a large shaded waterhole that flows all year.
It is closed during the wet season when saltwater crocodiles can move up flooded rivers.
- With Australian Associated Press
