Holidaymaker spots crocodile | Fraser Coast News | Local News in Fraser Coast

flickr.com/Tambako_the_Jaguar

STANDING about six feet from a four metre crocodile had holidaymaker Ross Anthony's heart pumping for hours.

Leaving the houseboat on a fibreglass runabout boat to go fishing in Deep Creek on Fraser Island was when Mr Anthony met the reptile.

“Through the cast net I saw something move.”

He said if he had not cast the net he would have stepped on the crocodile.

“I saw it was a crocodile and raced back up the bank to tell my brother and his girlfriend.”

Although petrified being so close, he threw out the cast net to make it move because he said he wanted someone else to verify what he was seeing.

“My heart was pumping for a few hours.

“It was pretty scary.”

With the water level about half a metre Mr Anthony said he had no doubt it was a crocodile.

“Mostly I had adrenalin running through my body.

“It was an amazing thing to see in the wild.”

Minister for the environment, Andrew McNamara said he was certain there was a large saltwater crocodile on the south west end of Fraser Island.

“There have been a number of credible sightings in the last two weeks.

“I've spoken to members of public involved and I have no doubt there's a crocodile there.”

He said he had 15 staff, up to four vessels and two traps on patrol in search for the reptile.

“EPA is maintaining a 24-hour vessel at the end of the Sandy Strait.

“I've also had a harpooning team brought down from North Queensland.

“I'm currently taking this very seriously.”

Mr McNamara said they were working closely with Volunteer Marine Rescue who had put the word out for boaties to keep their eyes peeled.

“It's simply unacceptable for a large crocodile to be living in that part of the world.

“Under no circumstances should anyone be swimming in the south west end of Fraser Island until this crocodile is caught.”

Read more ...

Crocodile seen in Mary River

Crocodile circles yacht in creek on Fraser

Rangers set traps for Strait croc