Daly River crocodile attack sees man rushed to hospital for emergency surgery

A crocodile egg collector was rushed to hospital after being bitten by one of the animals in a remote Northern Territory river.

The man suffered serious injuries after the reptile grabbed his leg near a station along the River Daly, south of Darwin, on Thursday.

He managed to free himself and was flown by private helicopter out of the area to civilization, where he was later transported to Royal Darwin Hospital by St John Ambulance.

The injuries are not life-threatening and the man is undergoing surgery at hospital, Northern Territory Police confirmed in a statement.

It is understood that he was employed by a crocodile egg harvesting operator and NT WorkSafe is investigating the incident.

Alligator egg collectors can earn $30 per egg, which can bring in $1,800 from a single nest that can hold up to 60 eggs.

Licensed harvesters typically rope down from helicopters to collect eggs from mulch piles on riverbanks that the creatures use as nests.

They are then transported to crocodile farms where they are raised.

According to the NT government’s Crocwise campaign, while crocodile attacks are rare, they do occur and the risk is greatest in the nesting season between September and May or if the animal feels that it or its nests are being threatened.

“You should always be aware of the risk of a saltwater crocodile attack in all Top End waterways,” the website states.

In March last year, a 22-year-old man in Nhulunbuy in Arnhem Land, east of Darwin, survived after being attacked by a crocodile while spearfishing.

And last week, a massive 12-foot crocodile was caught by NT Parks and Wildlife Rangers in an alligator trap near a popular swimming hole in Litchfield.