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The most recent croc attack a couple days ago.

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Wednesday, 5 October 2005. 09:10 (AWST)
Girl tells of escape from croc's jaws

A 10-year-old girl has told of her terrifying ordeal after being attacked by a crocodile while swimming in the far north of Western Australia.

Chantal Burnup's family says she was saved by her older brother who bashed the animal with his fist.

Bearing the scars of her lucky escape, Chantal has described how she was mauled by a three-metre crocodile.

She was swimming in a lagoon near Doubtful Bay north-east of Derby when the animal attacked.

"My dad and my brother had jumped in, I jumped in a little while after them and I turned around to call my dog and something grabbed me underwater," she said.

"I tried to get it off me and my dad pulled me out of the water and he pulled me back onto the rocks."

After being dragged underwater, Chantal's father managed to pull her from the crocodile's jaws while her brother, Simon, beat the animal away with his fist.

"By that time I had got out of the water and was watching and dad was shouting at me to help so I got back in and smacked it on the head," Simon said.

The girl suffered wounds and lacerations to her arms, back and chest.

After spending the night at a remote cattle station she was flown to Derby Hospital.

Her mother, Gabrielle, was not present at the time of the attack but flew to her daughter's bedside.

"I just couldn't imagine that a crocodile could grab her and she would be as alright as she is, she is so little," she said.

Local crocodile expert Malcolm Douglas says the area is infested with crocodiles which are extremely territorial at this time of year.

"I wouldn't go swimming there for a billion dollars ... that's one of the biggest crocodile populations in the Kimberley," he said.

Mr Douglas says tourists and tour operators need to be better educated about the dangers of crocodiles.

Video - real dialup (ABC news)

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John aka NitroX

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Govt get out of our lives NOW!
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