Camper Peter Rowsell says the crocodile came through a hole in his tent, which was just 15 metres from the water’s edge

This article is more than 4 years old

This article is more than 4 years old

A 19-year-old man says he’s “still a bit sore” after he was attacked by a crocodile while sleeping in a tent in Australia’s Northern Territory on Monday.

Peter Rowsell had been camping with family near a creek in the Daly region, about two hours’ drive from Katherine, on the Anzac Day long weekend.

Roswell told the ABC the crocodile came through a hole in his mosquito shelter tent, which was pitched just 15 metres from the water’s edge.



Crocodile attacks camper, dragging him from tent in Northern Territory Read more

“It was about 4.30 in the morning and I was sleeping ... and then I woke up and there was something shaking my foot,” he said. “It was about three or four metres long.”

Rowsell said the crocodile was holding on to his leg but didn’t drag him out of the tent. “It was on my foot for like 10 or 15 seconds but it let go after I whacked it once or twice,” he said.

Rowsell’s sister and her partner – who were sleeping in the back of a ute tray – woke to his yells and drove him to hospital. He was kept in overnight and received treatment for non-life threatening puncture wounds to his right leg. He was also put on an antibiotics drip to counter the bacteria in crocodiles’ mouths.

He was doing well and was expected to go home on Tuesday afternoon, Louise Harwood, the director of medical services at Katherine hospital, told media.

Harwood said Rowsell had puncture wounds to both his feet and that his injuries were consistent with his report that a crocodile had attacked him. “It’s not really possible to say from the marks he has the size of the crocodile,” she added.

A spokeswoman for the NT health department described Rowsell as “very lucky”.

NT residents and visitors are warned to stay away from river systems and water holes, where freshwater and saltwater crocodiles are common. Rowsell doesn’t know which breed of crocodile attacked him.

Campers are recommended to set up at least 50 metres away from the edge of water in crocodile territory.