Three teenage British backpackers were saved when their Scooby-Doo-style caravan became submerged in rapidly rising crocodile-infested floodwaters in Australia.

Former Eton College schoolboys Ed Talbot, 19, Tom White and Tom Vare, both 18, awoke to discover their brightly coloured “Mystery Machine”, parked just metres from a sign warning about saltwater crocodiles, had become stranded in floodwaters overnight.

The trio, who are currently on a gap year, were forced to clamber on to the roof of their vehicle as they awaited rescue in the northern state of Queensland.

Mr Talbot, from Hampshire, told the Evening Standard the group were “in a bit of shock and panic” when they found themselves surrounded by floodwater.

“There was a fair amount of water in the van. We were pretty much swimming,” he recalled. “We started bailing out water and then decided to stay in the van as there was a sign right next to the van that said ‘caution, danger of crocodiles’.

“We were told afterwards a four-and-a-half metre croc lives in the area.”