Australian cattle producer Colin Deveraux faced a life-threatening encounter with a crocodile and emerged victorious by biting back the crocodile.
Deveraux, heading towards the Finniss River for fencing work, stopped by a lake where he observed unusual fish behaviour. Approaching the water, a crocodile suddenly latched onto his right foot, shaking him violently and dragging him into the water.
Talking about the incident to ABC News Deveraux said: “I was in such an awkward position… but by accident, my teeth caught his eyelid. It was pretty thick, like holding onto leather, but I jerked back on his eyelid and he let go.
“I leapt away and took off with great steps up to where my car was. He chased me for a bit, maybe four metres, but then stopped.”
Mr Deveraux said he used a towel and some rope to stop the bleeding in his leg before his brother drove him 130km (80 miles) north to the Royal Darwin Hospital.
“If he [the crocodile] had bitten me somewhere else it would have been different,” he said.
“It means I’ve got to change what I do. I’ve been walking around that swamp country too long fixing fences and living life, but it’s opened my eyes.”
The entire ordeal unfolded in approximately eight seconds. Once freed, Deveraux swiftly escaped the situation, leaping away with the crocodile trailing behind for a short distance before stopping.
Despite the escape, Deveraux suffered an open wound on his right leg from the crocodile bite. Recognising the urgency, he improvised a makeshift tourniquet using a towel and rope to address the bleeding.
Subsequently, he was transported to Royal Darwin Hospital, located 80 miles away, by his brother for treatment.
Deveraux’s leg required intensive care due to infection from the murky waters where the crocodile emerged. Over ten days, the wound was diligently flushed to prevent further complications.