Hero army soldier saves his friend from the clutches of a crocodile after he was bitten on the head and body by the animal while swimming in infested waters
- A man in his 20s was bitten while swimming in croc-infested Queensland waters
- His friend, a man in his 30s, went to his aid and was also bitten by the reptile
- They were both airlifted to Cairns Hospital by the Royal Flying Doctor service
A soldier has head, chest and arm injuries after being mauled by a crocodile that also attacked an Army colleague who went to his aid in far north Queensland.
Both are being treated in the Cairns hospital after the reptile attacked them in croc-infested waters north of the Lockhart River on Friday afternoon.
Lockhart River Mayor Wayne Butcher says the men had gone for a swim in known crocodile habitat.
A soldier has head, chest and arm injuries after being mauled by a crocodile that also attacked an Army colleague who went to his aid in far north Queensland
The two men were airlifted to Cairns with serious injuries after they were attacked in dangerous waters just north of the Lockhart River. The emergency response is shown above
The defence department has told reporters both men are Army personnel but have not revealed if they were on or off duty when the attack happened.
The ambulance service said the most seriously injured man, aged in his early 20s, suffered head, chest and arm injuries. He is in a serious but stable condition.
The other man, in his early 30s, suffered arm injuries and is in a stable condition.
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The men were initially treated by a medical officer on an army barge before being transferred to another vessel and taken to shore. They were then airlifted to Cairns.
The attack happened about a kilometre from the community of Portland Road just after 4pm.
'Two blokes have been swimming in croc-infested waters. One got attacked and the other one … tried to help,' Mr Butcher, the mayor, has told the ABC.
The soldier, in his 20s, was swimming in croc-infested waters in Far North Queensland on Friday afternoon when the attack happened, leaving him in a critical condition. His mate who swam to his aid was also bitten and taken to hospital
