A 14-year-old boy has been bitten by a freshwater crocodile while swimming in a gorge in WA’s Kimberley region – and he inadvertently caught it on video.
Cameron Timms was swimming with his family at El Questro’s Moonshine Gorge when he was bitten, receiving an injury on his elbow and stomach. But, Cameron’s dad, Mark told the ABC that his son’s injuries were not “particularly serious”.
The teenager inadvertently filmed the 1.5-metre freshwater crocodile swimming among his family group on his GoPro. It wasn’t until they looked at the footage that they realised his injuries were from the croc.
Cameron’s elbow has two triangular puncture wounds, his stomach has a cut and scratches and his arm has wounds “like needle marks up in a row”.
“Which, to us, leads us to think that was maybe the teeth, I guess, and the elbow one’s the definite puncture wounds,” Mark told the ABC.
Freshwater crocodiles are not considered dangerous to humans and the incident is being considered an “accidental thing”. Many swimming holes have “freshies” in them in the region.
However, holidayers are reminded not to swim anywhere saltwater crocodiles inhabit and to be aware of where it is safe to swim in crocodile areas.
A recent incident in which a saltwater crocodile staked a woman and her dog in Kakadu National Park has prompted rangers in the area to remind people not to take any risks which involve these deadly creatures.
