A teenage boy who was attacked by a crocodile desperately fought off the predator after being dared to jump into the river.
Lee De Paauw, 18, managed to punch the reptile to escape its jaws after he was bitten during a late night swim in the Johnstone River in far north Queensland, the Daily Mail reported.
The young man had leaped into the croc-infested water from the wharf on the Innisfail esplanade just before 2.30am on Sunday.
![The attack could have been from a saltwater crocodile that had been frequenting the area. Photo / Supplied](https://www.nzherald.co.nz/resizer/v2/GAUWEITRG6IXOKVFY3LQ67JZA4.jpg?auth=7be6a913b6da33022532bd5052fa4e5916cb4777e504865e31d74411e97d812f&width=16&height=12&quality=70&smart=true)
The teenager was dared by his friends to jump into the river before the group pulled him to safety after they rushed to his aid, NT News reported.