Six-metre 'monster' kept traveller isolated with few supplies until he was rescued by passing local

This article is more than 7 years old

This article is more than 7 years old

A New Zealand kayaker has had a lucky escape after becoming trapped on a remote West Australian island for more than two weeks by a six-metre crocodile.

The man, known only as Ryan, was last month exploring the northern coast of Western Australia near Kalumburu, which is between Derby and Kununurra.

After he was left on remote Governor Island, he realised he didn't have enough supplies and tried to paddle the four kilometres or so back to the mainland by kayak.

But he immediately caught the eye of the six-metre saltwater crocodile who has lived in the area for years.

Every time he tried to leave, the crocodile would make his presence felt, leaving the adventurer stranded for a fortnight.

On Saturday, a Kalumburu resident, Don McLeod, spotted a light on the island, and when he checked it out, the hatless, shirtless and desperate visitor approached.

"When I came round through Red Bluff opposite Governor Island I saw a flash in the scrub," McLeod told ABC radio.

"I went across and Ryan came out looking a bit distraught. He came down the beach, he had no hat on and no shirt on.

"He was relieved and shocked, and thankful someone had come along because he was running out of options pretty quickly.

"He is a very, very lucky man."

Ryan travelled to Governor Island from Queensland. Part of his voyage was on a yacht whose owner was jailed en route in the Northern Territory, leaving his passenger stranded for two months.

After hitching a lift with a solo yachtsman from the Northern Territory to Western Australia, he was dropped on Governor Island with 160 litres of water, some flour and dry stores. But after realising he was unprepared for the Kimberley wilderness, his first attempt to reach the mainland was thwarted by the crocodile.

McLeod said the story was incredible.

"He said every time he got in his little kayak, which was only 2.5m long, this crocodile – who has lived there for many years and is a monster – has chased him," McLeod said.

"He was desperate for water when I trotted up. We gave him a cold beer, which was probably the wrong thing, and then he went to sleep about three-quarters of the way home."

The New Zealander has been given a bed at a mission on the mainland as he recovers.