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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
World
Ryan Fahey

Snorkeller survives horror crocodile attack by ripping its fanged jaws off his head

A man survived a certain death in the jaws of a fierce crocodile by prising open the beast's fanged mouth.

Marcus McGowan, 51, was on a snorkelling trip with a group of people around 17 miles off the upmarket holiday resort of Haggerstone Island in Australia's Queensland state.

He was left with lacerations across his arms and was later airlifted to hospital, but thankfully his quick thinking allowed him to escape with his life.

Recounting the terrifying events, he said in a statement: "I thought it was a shark but when I reached up, I realised it was a crocodile. I was able to lever its jaws open just far enough to get my head out."

The incident happened off the coast of Queensland and near Haggerstone Island, an enormous island resort that can be rented for more than £4,000 per night (9News)

The crocodile, which Marcus said may have been juvenile, wasn't finished yet and came back for a second swipe at his flesh.

Marcus managed to push him away, but not without sustaining a bite wound to the hand.

He was taken to a nearby island hospital before being flown to Cairns for further treatment.

The crocodile came back for a second try, but Marcus managed to push it away (9News)

Crocodiles rarely attack people in the waters around Australia, but the rate of incidents has surged over the past year.

Queensland environment officials - who promise to remove "problem crocodiles" for public safety - said it plans to investigate, but that it's unlikely they'll be able to track down the saltwater monster because they travel "tens of kilometres" each day.

Earlier this year, animal control agents euthanised a croc after it ate a dog and attacked its owner near Cairns.

Environment officials in Queensland promise to remove "problem crocodiles" when they pose a risk to humans (Getty Images)

And earlier in May, 65-year-old fisherman Kevin Darmody's remains were found in the belly of a beast on the Kennedy River.

In 1974, Australia outlawed crocodile hunting, causing the state's population to surge from lows of 5,000 to around 30,000.

The Haggerstone Island Resort is an entire island open for hire at a whopping £4,063 per night. It sits 370 miles north of Cairns, which is known as the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef.

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