Drunk Aussie takes on croc

2008-03-27 14:50

Sydney - A drunk Australian skylarking with his mates had a police sharpshooter to thank on Thursday for saving him from a four-metre crocodile on Groote Eylandt in the far-north Northern Territory.

Worried onlookers called police when the 27-year-old miner took to crocodile-infested waters to impress his drinking buddies at the Alyangula Recreation Club.

Michael O'Keefe, assistant manager at the club, said police were called after efforts to stop the stunt failed.

"I'd yelled to those guys there was a four-metre crocodile out there," O'Keefe told national broadcaster ABC. "This guy's an idiot. He's not from this planet."

An officer fired a volley of shots from his police-issue pistol before the deadly saltwater crocodile turned tail and backed away.

Local police chief Colin Smith said there were reports the man had seen the crocodile before his mates dared him to dive in.

"It started off 20m from him, then closed in to 10m and started to pick up pace for the attack," Smith said.

"The first (bullet) either hit the croc or put him off because it swam under the water," he said. "No one doubts the actions of police saved this fellow." - Sapa-dpa

- SAPA