A 44-year-old man is lucky to be alive after surviving a crocodile attack and coming away with only minor injuries.
The harrowing confrontation occurred while the man swam in Lake Placid, near Cairns, Australia on Thursday, reported CNN.
Although the man’s identity has not been revealed, it’s been disclosed he used his bare hands to pry the six-foot-long crocodile’s jaws from his head, paramedics said.
"A crocodile had bitten his head, and in his effort to remove the jaws of the crocodile he put his hands in to try and prize the jaws apart," said paramedic Paul Sweeney. "In the process of trying to remove his hands, the jaws snapped shut on his forefinger. He's a remarkably lucky gentleman."
The man was described as a "very fit individual" and his vital signs "were remarkably calm” following the attack.
It can’t be understated how differently the outcome could have gone.
"Just a few centimeters lower and we have major blood vessels ... had one of those been punctured, then it would have been a very different story," Sweeney added.
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The 44-year-old told authorities he’d been swimming in the lake three times a week for the last eight years.
"I would not be surprised if he ventured into those waters again for further exercise," Sweeney said.
The Queensland Environment Department is actively looking to locate the crocodile responsible for the attack.
“A crocodile was spotted in Lake Placid last night from about 100 metres away,” the department tweeted. “We'll continue to search this morning for a while & then resume when it's dark if the animal hasn't been located.”
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