A man has been attacked near a luxury resort in Queensland, Australia, after he managed to pry a crocodile’s jaw from around its head.
Marcus McGown was snorkelling about 17 miles (28 kilometers) off Haggerstone Island in Cape York when the reptile attacked.
“While inspecting some coral and fish and talking to a snorkeler, I was attacked from behind by a saltwater crocodile, which took my head in its jaws,” he said in a statement.
“I thought it was a shark but when I reached out I realized it was a crocodile.
“I was able to open its jaw wide enough for my head to stick out.
“Then the crocodile tried to attack me a second time, but I managed to push it away with my right hand and the crocodile bit my right hand.”
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Mr McGowan, 51, said he was able to swim back to the boat and was later flown to Cairns by helicopter for treatment of scalp injuries and stab wounds.
“Crocodiles are difficult to find in the high seas as these animals typically swim tens of kilometers per day,” Queensland’s Environment Department said.
Australian Media said it was the fifth crocodile attack in the area in recent months.
Crocodiles can be found in both fresh and salt water across Queensland, including rivers, swamps, oceans and the offshore islands of the Great Barrier Reef.