Horrifying footage of the moment a man and his dog were mauled by a crocodile at the bank of Far North Queensland river has emerged.
Alister MacPhee, 37, was believed to have been travelling around the state and missed local warnings of increased croc activity in the region.
He had taken his dog down to the Bloomfield boat ramp – 60km south of Cooktown – for a swim when the croc attacked about 5.30pm on Wednesday.
He appears to have set his phone down at the water’s edge to film the idyllic scene before stripping down to his budgie smugglers and approaching the water with his dog by his side.
Seconds after his feet meet the waters edge a splash explodes from the water as the crocs jaws wrap around his leg driving him backwards with force.
Mr MacPhee manages to scramble backwards and in a flash the croc has set it’s eyes on the dog.
The moment the croc grabs his leg sending him flying backwards. Picture: Supplied
The man managed to get away after the croc spotted the dog. Picture: Supplied
As the beast drags the dog into the water he manages to smash a few blows into it’s head but is unable to save his pet.
Bleeding and clutching his wounded leg the Mr MacPhee stumbles backwards away from the waters edge.
Jabalbina Aboriginal community general manager Josh Paterson told the Courier Mail one of his rangers was first on the scene to provide first aid.
“The croc grabbed the man by the leg and dragged him in but he managed to get away from its grip and the dog also got away,” Mr Paterson said.
“She is obviously pretty shook up about the whole thing.”
The dog hasn’t been seen since. Picture: Supplied
Queensland Ambulance says he was flown by rescue helicopter to Cairns for treatment. He is reportedly in a stable condition.
The dog is yet to be found.
A warning was issued in early January after a large crocodile was spotted in the area.
“Be careful near the boat ramp and surrounds. There is a crocodile there!,” the Wujal Wujal Aboriginal Shire Council posted on its Facebook site.
The man was taken to hospital for treatment of a leg wound. Picture: Supplied
Later that month, WWASC member Regan Kulka posted a video to Facebook to alert locals of a large croc that had been spotted near another boat ramp.
“Big boy at the boat ramp in Wujal Wujal,” he wrote in the caption.
The croc can be seen skulking just below the surface of the river within metres of the river bank.
“See that croc everyone, beware of your children because he is hanging around here,” she said.
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