Crocodile Attack
Submitted: Wednesday, Oct 13, 2004 at 15:04
ThreadID:
17019
Views:
3314
Replies:
4
FollowUps:
5
This Thread has been Archived
locallaw
Gidday,Just reading about the croc attack at
Cape Melville.My wife and I returned from there recently and were camped approx 50 meter from where the attack took place.Where they were camped was far too close to the
water but if you have been there it is hard to believe that anything could happen like what happened.
We camped a little further up the duneal area.
Bathurst Bay area is absolutly beautiful and campers tend to loose all inhibitions when in the area.
On the way back out I wanted my wife to video a
water hole as I drove through.I said to her she could walk accross the
creek a little further up."Not bloody likely there are crocs in there".So I walked up to where you could get accross and sure enough there were 2 crocs on the bank."SEE I TOLD YOU SO".Got all that sorted out jumped in the 4BY and into the
creek out the other side pulled up got out to check the video and was greeted by Ï DIDNT GET THE VIDEO I HAD THE LENS CAP ON". AGAHHHH.
But we had a good trip,
Seeya Locallaw
Reply By: flappan - Wednesday, Oct 13, 2004 at 15:17
Wednesday, Oct 13, 2004 at 15:17
Question for you . . . . was in inside or outside the National
Park ?
AnswerID:
80080
Follow Up By: locallaw - Wednesday, Oct 13, 2004 at 15:41
Wednesday, Oct 13, 2004 at 15:41
Gidday,As you go into the Bay and where you can
camp one side is the NP and the other outside.All there is a wooden
sign post.Have a look on a map and you will see what I mean.It was only a matter of a few metres either way.
Seeya Locallaw
FollowupID:
339447
Follow Up By: flappan - Wednesday, Oct 13, 2004 at 15:44
Wednesday, Oct 13, 2004 at 15:44
Yeah I did look, thats why I asked.
There is a bit of debate about guns in a Nat
Park , but , it would appear they weren't.
Thanks
FollowupID:
339448
Follow Up By: Austravel - Friday, Oct 22, 2004 at 16:38
Friday, Oct 22, 2004 at 16:38
Hi,
I've been there once and intend returning next year. I'd heard there is a section you can
camp outside the NP, is it legal to do so?? ie is it on private property or just crown land?? Can you please tell me were it is, we camped along
the beach a few k's up from the salt
water creek and a number of k's back from the headland and
the monument to the cyclone disaster.
Thanks
FollowupID:
340506
Reply By: Bros - Wednesday, Oct 13, 2004 at 15:51
Wednesday, Oct 13, 2004 at 15:51
locallaw,
Was there mid August and there were two blokes camped in just about that spot. We camped roughly half way from there to Muck
Creek. Believe
the spot to be outside the National
Park boundary. Croc tracks on beach near Muck
Creek and two blokes camped there said that they were harrassed in their dinghy in Muck
Creek several times.
Cheers,
Bros.
AnswerID:
80082
Follow Up By: locallaw - Wednesday, Oct 13, 2004 at 16:01
Wednesday, Oct 13, 2004 at 16:01
Gidday,As you drive up the dune
the beach if you drive almost straight ahead you come to a very large overhanging tree this is where a lot of people
camp.It is not far to the waters edge and those big lizards.But I will be going back as it is a beautiful area.
Just as a change of topic where we were camped(up the dune a bit)I had the call of nature so grabbed the shovel and went back over the dune and came to a lovley box with a
toilet seat and the works. I dug a large hole and went to put my new found
toilet over the hole.I dont know what made me turn it upside down but there was a nasty nest of redback spiders under the top.Consequently the
toilet finished up down the bank(I hate spiders).
Seeya Locallaw
FollowupID:
339451
Reply By: Bros - Wednesday, Oct 13, 2004 at 21:48
Wednesday, Oct 13, 2004 at 21:48
locallaw,
That nice overhanging tree had a
young couple camped under it in August. I have left two home made
toilets there for people to use in the last two years. One was open air bolted pine and one was a purple colour and covered in. Had the girls both times and they look for comfort. Me too i suppose. Used the pine one again this year. Found the purple one but didn't use it, just as
well. Have you ever seen the cross in the rocks more or less straight above the watering point. The name on it is Fred Dottinger or Fred Dattinger.
Cheers.
Bros.
AnswerID:
80132
Reply By: SUNSEEKER - Wednesday, Oct 13, 2004 at 23:45
Wednesday, Oct 13, 2004 at 23:45
Just a reply to flappan about guns in a national
park, Ican tell you that about 2 out of three people travelling outback Australia carry a firearm with them including myself and most leave them out of sight and use in a national
park but in the recent crocodile attack it was very fortunate that a firearm was at hand and all credit to the person who shot the croc. with the obvious panic at the time.Ihope not to stir up the do gooders but common sense rules sometimes.
AnswerID:
80150
Follow Up By: Mike Harding - Saturday, Oct 23, 2004 at 08:22
Saturday, Oct 23, 2004 at 08:22
The legislation about not having a firearm in a National
Park is rather silly anyway - it should just say hunting is not permitted in NPs. And given that we _do_ have potentially deadly crocs in these areas it makes a lot of sense to have a firearm available.
Previous times in the Top End I've taken my lever action .22 and on those occasions I was at a location where crocs might be a problem loaded the magazine to it's maximum of 15 rounds (nothing in the breech of course) with the idea that even though it's a .22 15 rounds in the vicinity of the eyes might discourage it. However after discussion with someone who knows the NT
well I’ve decided to take the shotgun loaded with solid shot in future – trouble is since we no longer have semi auto shotguns available (effectively) that only gives me two rounds so I guess I’d better make them accurate. Anyone have any other suggestion regarding firearms and crocs?
Mike Harding
FollowupID:
340549