Tourist attacked by croc off remote Haggerston island in Far North Queensland shares horror details

The man who miraculously fended off a saltwater crocodile has revealed that the reptile “wrapped its jaws on my head” during the terrifying attack.

On Saturday, 51-year-old Marcus McGowan was on a tourist excursion with his wife when the group decided to dock at the Charles Hardy Islands.

The Brisbane man was snorkeling in shallow water off Cape York’s coastline when a six-foot crocodile suddenly attacked.

Mr McGowan said he initially thought he was being attacked by a shark, in a statement from the Cairns and Hinterland Hospital and Health Service.

‘While checking out some coral and fish and chatting with a fellow snorkeler, I was attacked from behind by a saltwater crocodile that put its jaws on my head,’ said Mr McGowan.

“I thought it was a shark, but when I reached out I realized it was a crocodile. I was able to open its jaws just wide enough to get my head out.

On Sunday, the 51-year-old was flown to Cairns by the Royal Flying Doctor Service, accompanied by a nurse. He was then taken by ambulance to Cairns Hospital (pictured).

The crocodile then tried to attack me a second time, but I managed to push it away with my right hand, which was then bitten by the crocodile.

“I was once again able to escape the crocodile’s clutches and swim to the safety of the boat, which arrived after hearing our cries for help.”

Mr. McGowan was rushed back to Haggerton Island where he was then taken to Thursday Island Hospital to be treated for his injuries.

He suffered lacerations to the scalp and stab wounds to his head and hands.

On Sunday, the 51-year-old was flown to Cairns by the Royal Flying Doctor Service, accompanied by a nurse who used an RDFS medical chest.

The incident occurred around 2pm near the white sands and clear waters of Cape Grenville, close to the tip of Australia, 700km north of Cairns.

Mr McGowan was then taken by ambulance to Cairns Hospital where it was reported on Monday that his condition was stable.

The avid surfer and diver said he understood the risks of entering territory belonging to dangerous predators such as sharks and crocodiles.

“I was just in the wrong place, at the wrong time,” Mr McGowan said.

“I’m just thankful it was me and not one of the kids or ladies in the group.”

A spokesman for the Department of Environment and Science (DES) confirmed on Sunday that the incident will be investigated.

In a statement, the DES said Haggerstone Island was recognized as crocodile country and it was important for people to be “crocwise.”

It said it can be difficult to track the reptiles in the open ocean as they can travel up to 10 km in a day, but all crocodile sightings have been investigated.

The avid surfer and diver said he understood the risks of entering an area that belongs to dangerous predators such as sharks and crocodiles (stock image)

Mr McGowan has thanked those who helped him during and after the horror attack.

Others around him managed to help fend off the crocodile and bring it back to shore, where they stopped the blood and tended to its injuries.

“I would like to thank everyone who helped me through this ordeal, including the staff at Haggerstone Island Resort, the rescue helicopter crew, the Royal Flying Doctor Service, Thursday Island and Cairns Hospitals,” he said.

The incident occurred around 2pm near the white sands and clear waters of Cape Grenville, close to the tip of Australia, 700km north of Cairns.

Haggerstone Island is an exclusive all-inclusive resort on the Great Barrier Reef.

It is Queensland’s third crocodile attack in the past eight weeks, after previous incidents saw a fisherman eaten by a crocodile and a dog snatched and killed.