Teenager Now Recovering After Surviving Crocodile Attack In Queensland, Australia

A teenager survived a crocodile attack and in Queensland, Australia. The 18-year-old went into the river where the crocodile was as a dare.

Reports said the teen is now recovering from the attack. He, Lee de Paauw, jumped into the Johnstone River from the Innisfaill esplanade wharf at around 2:30 a.m. on Sunday. The crocodile mauled one of the teen's arms but he was able to escape the grip of the animal before he drowned.

Queensland paramedic Neil Noble said, "Reports from the scene are he was dared to jump into the water, which he did and unfortunately that area is well known for its crocodile population. We're just very grateful that he's survived this incident because it could have turned out to be quite fatal," Sky News reported.

The teenager suffered lacerations and fractures and underwent surgery in the hospital. De Paauw said he hit the crocodile on the nose and it loosened its grip then hit the animal again on its eye causing the crocodile to totally drop him.

The owner of the local wildlife cruises called Snapping Tours, Brenton Gangemi, said the crocodile responsible for the attack might be a male saltwater crocodile. The crocodile was reportedly three-and-a-half to four meters long and has been frequenting the area where the attack took place.

Aside from de Paauw, authorities found a dead 35-year-old fisherman in Palmer Point located in Far North Queensland over the weekend. Queensland Police said the man died from a crocodile attack per their initial investigation.

The crocodile that killed the man is said to be more than four meters long but it still remained unconfirmed if the animal really caused the man's death. If the man really died from a crocodile attack, it will be the ninth fatal attack in the area.

Once the reptile responsible for the fisherman's death will be found, the animal will be captured or killed, BBC shared. Authorities aboard a helicopter sighted the body of the man. He remained unidentified.