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Farmer in Australia bites crocodile’s eyelid to save himself

In an attempt to save his life, a man in Australia started fighting and kicking a crocodile that had latched onto his leg.

Published on: Nov 9, 2023, 16:29:05 IST
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A farmer had a lucky escape from a crocodile after the reptile latched onto his foot and refused to let go. As per reports, the man accidentally bit the reptile’s eyelid while attempting to kick it to get free from its clutches. The incident took place when the farmer, identified as Colin Deveraux, went to do some fencing near the Finniss River located in Australia.

A crocodile attacked a man when he went to do some fencing near the Finniss River in Australia. (Unsplash/@davidclode)
A crocodile attacked a man when he went to do some fencing near the Finniss River in Australia. (Unsplash/@davidclode)

"The water had receded, and it was down to this dirty water in the middle. I took two steps and, the dirty b****** [the crocodile] latched onto my right foot," Deveraux told ABC News. "It was a big grab, and he shook me like a rag doll and took off back into the water, pulling me in,” he added.

Also Read: Crocodile impregnates herself, ‘virgin birth’ intrigues scientists

In an attempt to save his life, Deveraux started fighting back and kicking the crocodile’s ribs. He also tried biting the animal, and in the chaos, his teeth caught in the reptile’s eyelids.

"I was in such an awkward position, but by accident, my teeth caught his eyelid. It was pretty thick, like holding onto leather, but I jerked back on his eyelid, and he let go. I leapt away and took off with great steps up to where my car was. He chased me for a bit, maybe four metres, but then stopped,” Deveraux shared.

Also Read: Australian man frees his head from the jaws of a crocodile

After escaping, Deveraux noticed that his leg was badly injured. He used a towel and some rope to create a temporary bandage then went to the hospital with his brother. The incident took place about a month ago, and since then, he has been receiving medical treatment at the hospital, including getting a skin graft.

"It all happened in about eight seconds I reckon," he said. If he [the crocodile] had bitten me somewhere else, it would have been different. It means I've got to change what I do. I've been walking around that swamp country too long, fixing fences and living life, but it's opened my eyes,” he shared while talking about his experience.

  • Trisha Sengupta
    ABOUT THE AUTHOR
    Trisha Sengupta

    Trisha Sengupta is a Chief Content Producer at Hindustan Times with over six years of digital newsroom experience. Specialising in high-engagement storytelling, she blends viral trends with traditional journalism to cover the intersection of technology, finance, and human emotion. Her reporting spans real estate and personal finance struggles in hubs like Bengaluru and Gurgaon, the NRI experience, and corporate shifts like tech layoffs. Trisha also frequently tracks global figures and writes human interest stories. Offline, Trisha is an avid reader, history enthusiast and solo traveler. She balances her journalism career with family life while actively integrating AI tools into her modern storytelling approach.Read More