A man in his 20s has been airlifted to hospital following a crocodile attack at a popular camping spot in Western Australia. The incident occurred on Saturday at a beach near Hidden Creek on the Dampier Peninsula, approximately 1,300 miles north of Perth.
The man was initially taken to Broome Hospital in a stable condition before being flown to Royal Perth Hospital via the Royal Flying Doctor Service on Sunday. The Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions is investigating the attack and has contacted the man's family.
Saltwater crocodiles are common along the Kimberley coast and are known to inhabit beaches, creeks and tidal waterways. They are far more aggressive than freshwater crocodiles and can grow up to six metres in length. This attack is the second reported in the Kimberley in less than five months, following an incident in January where a man survived severe lacerations from a three-metre saltwater crocodile.
Saltwater crocodiles, or 'salties', are the world's largest living reptile and are responsible for most crocodile attacks in Australia. They reside along the coast and near river mouths, while freshwater crocodiles prefer inland rivers and billabongs.
