Crocodile egg collector left in 'critical' condition after attack by croc while on job

A man, who works as a crocodile egg collector, was attacked while working in one of the most remote areas of Australia before being whisked away by helicopter to hospital

10:51, 31 Jan 2023

The Saltwater crocodile is the world's largest living reptile(Image: Getty Images)

A collector of crocodile eggs was rushed to hospital after being mauled by a croc.

The man was attempting to collect eggs along the Daly River in the Northern Territory of Australia when he was attacked by the reptile.

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The croc snapped at the 29-year-old's legs causing serious injuries, but the man somehow managed to free himself from the croc's jaws before he was flown away by private helicopter.

He was transported to Royal Darwin in an ambulance once he got closer to civilisation, with the Northern Territory being one of the most remote areas in Australia.

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Crocodile egg collection has become a lucrative - but dangerous - business(Image: Getty Images)

Police revealed the man was undergoing emergency surgery with a spokesperson for Northern Territory Heath saying the man's condition was becoming more severe and described as "critical".

The man remains at Sydney's Royal North Shore Hospital where he is thought to be in a "serious but stable" condition.

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According to Mail Online, the man was working as a crocodile egg harvester.

The collection of eggs from crocodiles was legalised in 2018 but subject to strict rules.

Croc attacks are far more common than shark attacks(Image: Getty Images)

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Those with a licence can collect eggs in what has become a lucrative business.

Eggs are sold for around $30 (£17) per egg, with a nest of 60 eggs fetching up to $1,800 (£1,000).

Some of the eggs are transferred to so-called "crocodile farms" where they are often raised before being killed to make luxury product like handbags from their skin.

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A number of luxury fashion brands make use of these farms, including French fashion house Hermes, who have contracts with a number of farms in the Northern Territories.

Crocodile attacks on humans are common in places with high croc populations.

It is estimated that up to 1,000 people are killed by crocodiles every year which is much higher than shark attacks, which are thought to have killed fewer than 500 people since the 1950s.

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