AN AUSTRALIAN fisherman survived a brutal crocodile attack by smacking it on the head with his dog.
Todd Bairstow was trapped within the jaws of the 11ft croc for 30 minutes as it ripped off his fingers and snapped both of his legs during a series of death rolls.
SBSTodd Bairstow was attacked by an 11ft croc as it ripped off his fingers and snapped both his legs during a series of death rolls[/caption]
SBSTodd was left with several major bite marks all over his body[/caption]
SBSThe Aussie fisherman revealed what was going through his mind during the attack[/caption]
A valiant Todd, then 28, defied the odds as he narrowly escaped death by kicking, punching and using his young puppy to take on the saltwater crocodile.
The horror ordeal at Trunding Creek near Weipa on the Cape York Peninsula saw Todd fight for his survival for over half an hour.
The mine worker was out fishing at the time and had only just set up for the evening ahead near to a mangrove.
Recalling the terrifying 2011 experience on SBS Insight, Todd said: “I got out of my car, I found a clearing there, put my beer on the ground, taken my lure off my rod, and I’ve taken about two steps and then — bang!
“Something’s grabbed me on my left leg from behind.
“My immediate thought was it felt like somebody jumped out to scare me or a mate to shock me but I’ve looked down and it’s an 11-foot croc hanging off my leg.”
The feral predator tried to drag Todd into the creek as he desperately clutched onto the mangroves, kicking and screaming to be released.
Todd tried all he could to be saved including gouging the croc’s eyes and pulling its jaws apart.
The longer he was trapped, the more injuries Todd sustained.
An initial bite mark on his left leg was soon followed by a death roll – a trademark crocodile attack which often debilitates their prey.
Todd said: “The crocodile’s got me on my left leg and I’ve thought to myself, ‘I’m in trouble here.’
“And as soon as I thought that, it went slack and the big splash of water came up and this left leg is just dislocated.
“He’s done the death roll. This leg’s popped out like a matchstick. I heard it go crack.”
Todd’s dog had watched the entire ordeal unfold with him now starting to fiercely bark at the saltwater crocodile.
Todd continued: “I grabbed him and I’ve just started hitting the crocodile on the head with hi, with the little dog, thinking maybe he might let go of me and take him.”
Seconds later, Todd’s right leg was then crushed after another attempted roll as one of his fingers was also ripped off.
“That’s when I really thought, ‘F*** I’m going to die here.’ And I started yelling out ‘Help! Croc! Help! Croc!’,” Todd added.
By this point Todd was up to his waist in the water and still clinging onto the mangrove.
He was eventually saved by a friend after his screams for help were heard from a nearby pub.
A lady had just left the Albatross Pub for a cigarette as she spotted the brawl in the distance and rushed over.
Fellow mine worker and friend of Todd, Kevin Beven, also arrived at the pub at that point.
Kevin rushes to his pal’s side and asks: “Where’s the croc?”
Todd shouted back: “It’s on my f***ing legs!”
The crocodile eventually let go after Kevin found a stick and started whacking it on the head.
“He’s pulled me up, dragged me up the bank there,” Todd said.
Todd was immediately flown to Cairns Base Hospital for a series of operations on the highly infectious crocodile bites.
Weeks later, the croc was caught and identified as being behind the attack.
GettyWeeks later, the saltwater croc was caught and identified as being behind the attack (stock)[/caption]