Crocodile attacks tourist at Australia’s Wangi Falls while cop puts body on the line to save her family

Crocodile attacks tourist at Australia’s Wangi Falls while cop puts body on the line to save her family

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Dozens of tourists have fled the waters of a Northern Territory national park swimming hole after it’s believed a man was attacked by a crocodile.

NT Parks and Wildlife closed Wangi Falls, in Litchfield National Park, on Monday afternoon after “unconfirmed reports of an incident with a crocodile,” according to a social media post.

“We have closed access for safety reasons,” it reads, “please obey all closures and do not enter the water.”

NT News reported an off-duty nurse helped the man, aged in his 60s, until staff from a local health clinic arrived to transport the man.


Wangi Falls at sunset in Litchfield National Park near Darwin in the Northern Territory.
Wangi Falls at sunset in Litchfield National Park near Darwin in the Northern Territory.
Getty Images

Most fatal croc attacks in the NT in the past 20 years, have occurred when people have entered the water outside of designated swimming areas.
Most fatal croc attacks in the NT in the past 20 years, have occurred when people have entered the water outside of designated swimming areas.
Northern Territory Parks and Wildlife

The Northern Territory Parks and Wildlife posted this update following the incident.
The Northern Territory Parks and Wildlife posted this update following the incident.

Taneka Starr, a visitor from Tasmania, told the paper about 80 people were swimming at Wangi Falls when the attack took place.

“He saw the croc and warned another man which diverted the croc back to him,” Taneka said.

“People on the viewing platform were screaming at us to get out of the water, which we all did.

“[It was] terrifying.”


Wangi Falls was closed after a crocodile attacked a man at the waterhole.
Wangi Falls was closed after a crocodile attacked a man at the waterhole.
Ingrid Johanson

The Crocodile Management Team and Litchfield Rangers have removed a 3.4m saltwater crocodile from a trap at Wangi Falls.
The Crocodile Management Team and Litchfield Rangers have removed the 3.4-meter saltwater crocodile from a trap at Wangi Falls.
Facebook/Northern Territory Parks and Wildlife

The crocodile was caught in a trap by the Crocodile Management Team.
The crocodile was caught in a trap by the Crocodile Management Team.
Facebook/Northern Territory Parks and Wildlife

She said the man suffered scratches and an open-wound to his arm, and while he was in shock, tried to downplay his condition because his grandchildren were present.

A Tasmanian police officer put her body on the line to protect her family during the attack.

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Detective Taneka Starr was on holiday with her family when onlookers began screaming about the crocodile.

“We formed a circle together to make sure we all made it out of the water safely as a group, especially the children,” she said.


Those in the water formed a circle while exiting the water to make sure everyone made it out safely.
Those in the water formed a circle while exiting the water to make sure everyone made it out safely.
Facebook/Northern Territory Parks and Wildlife

The man suffered scratches and an open wound to his arm and was in shock.
The man suffered scratches and an open wound to his arm and was in shock.
Getty Images

“We then saw that a man had suffered injuries to his arm and together my sisters and I provided first aid.

“I’m so glad that everyone was OK. It was a pretty terrifying experience.”

Wangi Falls is a popular dry-season swimming hole, about an hour’s drive south of Darwin.

The incident comes just a day after a 2.5m saltwater crocodile (a “saltie” to the locals, as opposed to a “freshie”) closed Bitter Springs, in the Elsey National Park.

The NT Government says while they take visitor safety seriously, the way people behave around crocodile habitats is their responsibility.

“Any body of water in the Top End may contain large and potentially dangerous crocodiles,” reads their crocodile education website Crocwise.



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