JFC.
Yesterday, a trainee female wildlife handler was rushed to hospital after being savaged by a crocodile at a Queensland wildlife sanctuary.
Renee Robertson, 25, was overseeing a feeding show at the Billabong Sanctuary in Townsville when a 2.5-metre croc called Tipper lunged out of the water and dragged her to the ground.
“The screams you could hear were shocking, we felt so helpless for the poor woman in the enclosure,” witness Frank He told the Courier Mail. “There were quite a few people watching the show, and we were all just in shock. Luckily the girl was only attacked by the small female crocodile that was about 2m long; there was a larger male one near the water that was twice as big.”
Robertson – who was acting as the “spotter” during the afternoon show – was rushed to hospital with a “significant arm injury”, and underwent emergency surgery. She’s now in a stable condition, and expected to make a full recovery.
“There was no nerve damage, so that was the best news we could have had,” sanctuary owner Bob Flemming told ABC Radio today. “We’re very, very fortunate that she’s going to fully recover.”
Eight witnesses were treated for shock at the scene.
The incident is being investigated by both the sanctuary and Workplace Health and Safety Officers, but the croc will not be euthanised.
“It was a very unfortunate incident and one that we’re very sad about,” Flemming told the Courier Mail. “As Tipper is a crocodile, she’s certainly not going to be euthanised but we’ll review our training procedures and make sure it never happens again.”
In the words of Wu Tang Clan, crocodiles ain’t nuthing ta fuck wit.
Watch footage of the attack below, but please be warned it is pretty distressing stuff.
Source: Courier Mail / ABC.
Photo: Supplied.
