A man attacked by a crocodile and dragged by his leg into the water before it mauled his dog to death says he’s learned his lesson about messing around in croc-infested waters.
Alister MacPhee, 37, was bitten on the leg by the croc, which suddenly lurched 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 in Cairns Hospital and says he has learnt his lesson the hard way by losing his dog in the crocodile attack.
Alister MacPhee, 37, was bitten on the leg by the croc, before his dog Molly was also mauled. Mr MacPhee says he has learnt the hard way not to mess around in croc territory
A nearby ranger rushed to Mr MacPhee’s aid and he was treated at the Wujal Wujal clinic before a rescue helicopter airlifted him to Cairns Hospital in a stable condition (image of the 4.2m crocodile that attacked a man and ate his dog)
‘I want to thank emergency services and staff at Cairns Hospital for looking after me,’ he said in a statement shared by 7News.
‘Especially Magic Molly (my dog) who was always by my side.
‘I have, unfortunately, learned the hard way… Everyone needs to be croc-wise in croc territory.’
Footage of the incident shows MacPhee had been entering the knee-deep water with his dog close by when he was attacked by the croc without warning.
Mr MacPhee’s dog appeared to make a brave attempt to save him, only for the crocodile to turn its attention to the pooch and grab it in its jaws.
Incredibly, Mr MacPhee then tried to rescue his dog, with footage showing him raining punches down on the massive reptile.
However, the croc won the battle and went back underwater with the dog, leaving Mr MacPhee to walk up the boat ramp, clutching his leg in shock after suffering several bites.
A nearby ranger rushed to Mr MacPhee’s aid and he was treated at the Wujal Wujal clinic before a rescue helicopter airlifted him to Cairns Hospital in a stable condition.
Mr MacPhee is now recovering from his injuries to his leg in Cairns Hospital and says he has learnt 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
He is understood to have undergone surgery on Thursday morning.
Queensland Parks and Wildlife has been advised of the incident and has sent a local team to the scene to investigate.
It’s understood the man was travelling around 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 saved his life has been left shaken by the harrowing scenes.
It’s understood she was awarded ranger of the month in January and is likely to retain the title for a second consecutive month.
‘She could see there was someone in distress at the river and it was really lucky cause we had just finished our first aid training,’ Mr Paterson said.
‘She is obviously pretty shook up about the whole thing.
‘I hear the man was devastated at the loss of his dog and it’s thought the dog came to his aid.’
The terrifying incident happened just weeks after a local issued a warning by sharing footage of a large crocodile lurking in the water near the boat ramp.
Mr MacPhee and his dog ‘Magic Molly’ were attacked at a boat ramp on Bloomfield River in far north Queensland
It’s understood Mr MacPhee was travelling around Queensland and had taken his dog to the boat ramp for a drink of water
‘See that croc everyone,’ the man who filmed the video says.
‘Beware of your children … because he is hanging around here.’
The footage prompted authorities to issue a similar warning.
‘Be careful near the boat ramp and surrounds. There is a crocodile there!’ the Wujal Wujal Aboriginal Shire Council posted at the time.
Mr Paterson is unsure whether the crocodile in the footage is the same one that attacked the man on Wednesday.
Local Billy Dunn said the croc responsible for the attack was a newcomer to the area.
‘There is a big new croc in the river and he is a big nasty bugger,’ he said.
‘He has just been watching everybody and there has been a lot of roadworks, so there have been a lot of people around. I see him all the time because I am on the river a lot.’
A man has been dragged into the water and attacked just weeks after locals warned of a crocodile lurking in Bloomfield near the boat ramp
Cooktown mayor Peter Scott was relieved to hear the man involved in the latest incident survived.
‘Once you come up to Far North Queensland you are in a lot of natural environments… there’s a lot of natural wildlife around and you just have to be aware when you come up here there are crocs in the Bloomfield area.’
The Department of Environment and Science said wildlife officers will attempt to locate the croc and remove it from the river.
‘This incident is a timely reminder for people to be Crocwise in croc country and not to be complacent with their own safety or the safety of their family or pets when they are in or near the water,’ a DES spokeswoman said.
