A worker at a crocodile park tourist attraction is lucky to be alive after being mauled by a five-metre saltwater crocodile.
The 34-year-old woman was taken to hospital after she was attacked by resident saltwater croc Leo while working at Crocosaurus Cove in Darwin on April 29.
It’s understood the female employee was putting a plant in the enclosure while leaning over a wall when Leo make a beeline for her, a former employee told the NT News.
Another source claimed the woman was ‘lucky to not lose a limb’ during the horrifying encounter.
The former staff said a ‘code-blue’ life-threatening emergency alarm had been called out before the injured worker was treated with a tourniquet.
They said it was the first time a huge crocodile had attacked an employee like this but admitted other staff had been bitten by smaller juvenile crocodiles.
‘There was a pretty bad bite, probably a year to two years ago now, where an underage staff member actually got bitten by one of the smaller crocodiles,’ the former worker claimed.
NT WorkSafe confirmed the female worker had been bitten and an inquiry had been launched.
It would not disclose any details about the woman’s injuries due to ‘privacy’ reasons.
A St John Ambulance spokeswoman said a 34-year-old woman had been taken to hospital with minor injuries.
A Crocosaurus Cove spokeswoman said the ‘minor incident’ had been managed in accordance with to its policy and procedures, with positive outcomes
She said out of respect for its staff members the organisation would not make any further comment.
Leo the crocodile has been a tourist drawcard at the popular retile attraction since he was transferred from a Darwin crocodile farm.
Back in the mid-1980s, the crocodile had a penchant for live cattle on the Finiss River Station in the Northern Territory.
The venue which said it offers visitors an up close and personal view of the crocodiles boasts the cage of death experience where visitors get to dive with Leo.
‘We reckon no croc jumps for his lunch quite like Leo does,’ the tourist attraction said on it social media.
This article by Jade Hobman was first published by The Daily Mail on 13 May 2023. Lead Image:
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