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Local officials said the 44-year-old was swimming in Lake Placid, near the Cairns tourist spot, when he was bitten by the reptile.
BRISBANE – A man ripped a crocodile’s jaws from its head to survive an attack in northern Australia on Thursday, then insisted that he will soon return to the spot to swim, according to paramedics.
Local officials said the 44-year-old was swimming in Lake Placid, near the Cairns tourist spot, when he was bitten by the reptile.
“He felt this sudden impact on the top of his head, which he recognized as a crocodile,” said Paul Sweeney, a paramedic with the Queensland Ambulance Service.
“He put his hands on his jaws to remove them from his head and when he did and released, the jaw slammed shut on his left index finger.”
Sweeney said the man swam a considerable distance back to shore, fearing the creature would return, and crawled ashore.
Rescuers found the man sitting in a “remarkably calm” state.
Although the man was left with puncture wounds to his head, face, shoulder and hand, he escaped without serious injuries.
“He’s a very lucky man,” Sweeney said.
Saltwater crocodiles are known to inhabit the area, but attacks are relatively rare.
Sweeney said the man was taken to a Cairns hospital and was expected to make a full recovery.
“He is a fairly robust person who insisted that he will swim there again soon. So, a braver man than me.”
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