A wildlife ranger who wrestled himself free from the jaws of a saltwater crocodile by poking it in the eyes, says he is grateful to be alive to tell the tale.

Key points: A 2.8 metre crocodile attacked Craig Dickmann in a remote area

A 2.8 metre crocodile attacked Craig Dickmann in a remote area Mr Dickmann's right hand was 'degloved' and he had injuries to his other hand, arms and legs

Mr Dickmann's right hand was 'degloved' and he had injuries to his other hand, arms and legs The Environment Department says the crocodile was humanely euthanased

Craig Dickmann, 54, recalled the horrifying moment he turned to pack up his fishing equipment at a remote beach on Queensland's Cape York Peninsula when a 2.8 metre crocodile lunged from the water and latched on to his thigh.

The incident happened at Captain Billy Landing on Sunday afternoon.

"It was quicker than your mind can register — that noise will haunt me forever I think, the snap of its jaws," Mr Dickmann said.

Mr Dickmann, who was off-duty at the time, then wrestled the crocodile and managed to free himself by jamming his thumb into the reptile's eye.

"[The crocodile was] rolling and if you can imagine, I am lying on the rocks on my back at this stage, trying to get away from it and it's virtually on top," he said.

"There is no weakness on this thing — it's a tank — my thoughts were 'I was going to try to push my thumb into its brain', so I pushed down as far as my thumb could go."

After Mr Dickmann freed himself, the crocodile lunged a second time and clamped onto his wrist, degloving his hand.

"I remember looking at [my hand] later on and saying 'that looks like when you peel back the flesh and do those diagrams on anatomy textbooks'," he said.

Now recovering in Cairns Hospital, Mr Dickmann says he is grateful to everyone who helped with the rescue. ( ABC News: Marian Faa )

Mr Dickmann freed himself a second time by clamping the crocodile's jaws and "flicking" it into the water, where the reptile slid out of sight.

"I had a weird moment — because I was wearing crocs [shoes] at the time — and I thought 'I've got to go and get my crocs [shoes]'

"So I'm looking around in the water trying to fetch my crocs out of the water and I thought 'you idiot'."

Mr Dickmann then drove himself more than an hour back to the Heathlands Ranger Station where he works and phoned triple-0 and was given first aid by another ranger.

The closest airstrip where a Rural Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) plane could land safely at night was Bramwell Station, about an hour's drive south from the ranger station.

Mr Dickmann's colleague drove him to Bramwell Station to wait for the RFDS and he was then airlifted to Cairns Hospital about 8:00pm on Sunday.

Another ranger drove Mr Dickmann to Bramwell Station to wait for the RFDS. ( Supplied: Wendy Kozicka )

'Very lucky man'

RFDS nurse Katie Corkill, who assisted with the rescue, said Mr Dickmann had shown incredible resilience.

"When we looked at his injuries and when we heard his story, we thought there are so many tiny details that could have gone completely differently," she said.

"He's a very lucky man. I am really happy for him — I think it's amazing and I am so glad he's come out of this and going to make a full recovery."

Now recovering in Cairns Hospital, Mr Dickmann said he was grateful to everyone who helped with the rescue.

"It's just one of those accidents that occurred — I was in the wrong place at the wrong time," he said.

"I checked the area for tracks, I made sure there was dry land behind me, I stood back from the edges — I think this croc was particularly cunning and particularly devious."

The Environment Department investigated the incident and said the crocodile was located on Tuesday night and humanely euthanased.