A man is recovering in hospital after a crocodile attack at Innisfail. Credit:Paul Rovere "Unfortunately that area's well known for its crocodile population and we're just really grateful that he survived this incident because it could have turned out to be quite fatal." Mr de Paauw was quickly pulled from the water and rushed to the Innisfail Hospital, before being taken into surgery in Cairns. "Certainly to get him out the water was absolutely vital in case that crocodile was able to get a good grip on him and do the death roll and drown him, which I believe is often the case," Mr Noble said. "So we're very grateful that he was able to get out and certainly this could have turned out to be quite different indeed."

Crocodile attack victim Lee de Paauw. Credit:Facebook / Lee de Paauw The paramedic said the man's arm, initially thought to have been amputated was "really badly damaged" and would need extensive surgery. EARLIER A young man jumped off a wharf in the middle of the night, straight into the mouth of a crocodile. Queensland Ambulance supervisor Rita Kelly said paramedics were called out to Innisfail about 2.30am following reports an 18-year-old man had jumped into the river and been mauled by a crocodile.

"On arrival we found a male who had jumped into the Johnstone River and was attacked by a crocodile and had significant injuries to his arm," she said. The man was initially taken to Innisfail Hospital where he was stabilised, before he was then transported to Cairns Hospital. He arrived at Cairns Hospital around 5am and went straight into surgery. "He is very lucky, initial reports were his hand was completely amputated and on arrival that was not the case," Ms Kelly said. "Although he does have significant injuries, his arm is still intact which is very fortunate." Ms Kelly said paramedics are not sure why the man jumped into the river, and they are not sure how big the crocodile was.