Fisherman survives croc attack and carries on fishing

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A fisherman has survived an attack from a 2.5m saltwater crocodile which leapt into his dinghy and clamped its jaws around his upper chest.

Bruce Rudeforth was fishing for barramundi in Secure Bay, Western Australia, last week when the crocodile launched at him.

"Out of the corner of my eye, this thing came at me," the 59-year-old told the West Australian newspaper.

"It bit into my shoulder and I stood up and gave it one in the throat with my free elbow.

"I presume that's what made it let go."

The crocodile slid down and was teetering on the dinghy's gunwale for several seconds.

"It was a bit touch-and-go as to whether it went back into the water or came into the dinghy with us," he said.

"Things were a bit tense."

Dr Rudeforth, a dentist, was bleeding underneath his shredded shirt, but the close encounter was not over.

The crocodile disappeared underwater but returned, forcing the dentist and his fishing mate Neil Fong to strike the reptile with an oar.

"With the other hand I had the outboard started and we were going backwards at a million miles an hour," he said.

He said that crocodiles were normally spotted on his fishing trip, but none had been so bold.

"We have been doing this for years and years and there are always crocodiles around.

"They usually hang out at a comfortable distance, just waiting for you to make a mistake, but on this trip we had lots of episodes where they came right at us and were aggressive."

He had one theory that as more people ventured into the area, they might be feeding the crocodiles.

"And that is causing them to associate humans with food," he said.

"If that's the case, then there will be more and more of this sort of stuff happening."

Dr Rutherford was treated on a bigger fishing boat with the help of three other members of his group.

Rather than call off the week-long trip, Dr Rudeforth decided to continue fishing with stitches in the wounds for several days.

"It takes a lot to organise a trip like that," he said.

- staff reporter