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A man attacked by a crocodile and dragged into the water by the leg before it mauled his dog to death says he learned his lesson about wasting time in crocodile-infested waters.
Alister MacPhee, 37, was bitten on the leg by the crocodile, which suddenly came out of the water to attack him on Wednesday at a remote boat ramp in Cooktown, north Queensland.
Mr MacPhee is now recovering from his injuries at Cairns Hospital and says he learned his lesson the hard way by losing his dog in the crocodile attack.
Alister MacPhee, 37, was bitten on the leg by the crocodile, before his dog Molly was also mutilated. Mr. MacPhee says that he has learned the hard way not to waste time in crocodile territory.
A nearby ranger rushed to Mr MacPhee’s aid and he was treated at the Wujal Wujal clinic before a rescue helicopter took him to Cairns Hospital in stable condition (image of 4.2m crocodile attacking man and ate his dog)
“I want to thank the emergency services and staff at Cairns Hospital for taking care of me,” he said in a statement shared by 7News.
‘Especially Magic Molly (my dog) who was always by my side.
“Unfortunately, I learned the hard way… Everyone needs to be crocodile wise in crocodile territory.”
Footage of the incident shows MacPhee had been wading into knee-deep water with his dog nearby when he was attacked by the crocodile without warning.
Mr. MacPhee’s dog appeared to make a brave attempt to save him, only for the crocodile to turn its attention back to the dog and seize it in its jaws.
Incredibly, Mr MacPhee then tried to rescue his dog, and footage shows him throwing punches at the massive reptile.
However, the crocodile won the battle and went under again with the dog, leaving Mr. MacPhee walking up the boat ramp, clutching his leg in shock after sustaining several bites.
A nearby ranger rushed to Mr MacPhee’s aid and he was treated at the Wujal Wujal clinic before a rescue helicopter took him to Cairns Hospital in stable condition.
Mr MacPhee is now recovering from his leg injuries at Cairns Hospital and says he learned his lesson the hard way by losing his dog in the crocodile attack.
Mr. MacPhee was suddenly attacked by the crocodile, before his dog Molly tried to rescue him.
It is understood that he underwent surgery on Thursday morning.
Queensland Parks and Wildlife have been made aware of the incident and have dispatched a local team to the scene to investigate.
It is understood that the man was traveling through Queensland and had taken his dog to the boat ramp for a drink of water.
The ranger who rushed to the man’s aid and helped save his life was shocked by the harrowing scenes.
It is understood that she was awarded Ranger of the Month in January and is likely to retain the title for the second month in a row.
“She could see that there was someone in danger in the river and she was very lucky because we had just finished our first aid training,” Paterson said.
“She’s obviously pretty shaken up by the whole thing.
“I heard that the man was devastated by the loss of his dog and it is believed that the dog came to his aid.”
The terrifying incident occurred just weeks after a local issued a warning by sharing footage of a large alligator lurking in the water near the boat ramp.
Mr MacPhee and his dog ‘Magic Molly’ were attacked at a boat ramp on the Bloomfield River in far north Queensland.
It is understood that Mr MacPhee was traveling through Queensland and had taken his dog to the boat ramp for a drink of water.
“Look at that crocodile everyone,” says the man who filmed the video.
‘Be careful with your children… because they are hanging around here.’
The footage prompted authorities to issue a similar warning.
‘Be careful near and around the boat ramp. There’s a crocodile there! the Wujal Wujal Aboriginal Shire Council published at the time.
Paterson isn’t sure if the alligator in the footage is the same one that attacked the man on Wednesday.
Local Billy Dunn said the alligator responsible for the attack was a newcomer to the area.
“There’s a big new crocodile in the river and he’s a big nasty bastard,” he said.
“He’s been watching everyone and there’s been a lot of roadwork going on, so there’s been a lot of people around. I see it all the time because I’m on the river a lot.
A man was dragged into the water and attacked just weeks after locals noticed an alligator lurking in Bloomfield near the boat ramp.
Cooktown Mayor Peter Scott was relieved to learn that the man involved in the latest incident survived.
“Once you get to Far North Queensland, you’re in a lot of natural environments… there’s a lot of natural wildlife around and just be aware that when you come here there are crocodiles in the Bloomfield area.”
The Department of Environment and Science said wildlife officers will try to locate the crocodile and remove it from the river.
“This incident is a timely reminder for people to be prudent in crocodile country and not settle for their own safety or the safety of their family or pets when they are in or near the water,” a spokeswoman for the crocodile said. OFF