Spearfisher recovering after being bitten multiple times in Queensland croc attack

[Pressurehead]

From ABC Australia, worth a read:

Spearfisher who eye-gouged crocodile during undersea struggle an 'extremely lucky man'

The 36-year-old was with six others when the predator dragged him beneath the surface. He received multiple injuries while fending the animal off and managed to swim to safety.

www.abc.net.au

 

[Johnoly]

The dives we do are risky. Everything is trying to kill us out there. Sharks, Crocs, Eels, Propellers, & the gun itself.

Last week another spearo off Tampa was shot with a gun and he wasn't moving when hoisted up to the helicopter. Like all diving > don't push a bad situation.

USCG medevaced man after he was injured in speargun incident - IONTB

On Thursday, April 6, 2023, USCG Air Station Clearwater and a Station Sand Key rescue crew responded to a distress call in the Gulf of Mexico. The incident occurred at approximately 4 p.m., about 20 miles off John’s Pass. They made contact with a man that was critically injured after being shot...

iontb.com

 

[clownfishsydney]

Honestly, what person in their right mind would spearfish or even swim in the Cooktown area?

 

[berndo]

Honestly, what person in their right mind would spearfish or even swim in the Cooktown area?

Why is that? Are there that many crocs around? I went free diving from the beach in the Cape Tribulation agrea once. The locals had told me it was OK outside of jellyfish season.

 

[Angelo Farina]

Why is that? Are there that many crocs around? I went free diving from the beach in the Cape Tribulation agrea once. The locals had told me it was OK outside of jellyfish season.

I was there in 2007 and the local diving instructor, Richard Lee, warned me about crocs being much more dangerous than sharks...
We went down the Telegraph path from Cairns to Cooktown, with a Nissan Patrol and my wife and our two sons..
We did sleep at the Cape Tribolation hostel and we had a short snorkeling there. But there were warning signs about the crocs and we were told to be very careful.
It is really a pity, as there are very nice beaches and reefs, but risking your life for crocs is not for me.

 

[berndo]

I only saw those warning signs at rivers crossings, not at the beach.

 

[RedSeaDiver2]

Why is that? Are there that many crocs around? I went free diving from the beach in the Cape Tribulation agrea once. The locals had told me it was OK outside of jellyfish season.

Inshore Cooktown is certainly croc country - you would have to be a stubbie short of a six pack to go spearfishing there.

 

[clownfishsydney]

Why is that? Are there that many crocs around? I went free diving from the beach in the Cape Tribulation agrea once. The locals had told me it was OK outside of jellyfish season.

Another crocodile attack only a few days before in FNQ on someone sleeping on the beach. Every beach and the water north of Cairns is certainly crocodile land. I have personally swum off the beach north of Cooktown, but I was not spearfishing and the water was so clear and shallow, I could check that there were no crocodiles around before I went in (and I was not in very long).

More people die from crocodile attacks in Australia than sharks on average.