A 51-year-old Gold Coast man has told how he prised open the jaws of a crocodile that attacked him when he was snorkelling off Cape York.
Wildlife authorities are investigating the attack off an exclusive island resort in Far North Queensland — the fifth such incident in the region in eight weeks.
Marcus McGowan was snorkelling with a group about 28 kilometres off Haggerstone Island in Cape York on Saturday when he was attacked.
Mr McGowan said he was snorkelling with his wife and group of friends when the incident happened.
"While checking out some coral and fish and talking to a fellow snorkeller, I was attacked from behind by a saltwater crocodile which got its jaws around my head," he said.
"I thought it was a shark but when I reached up, I realised it was a crocodile. I was able to lever its jaws open just far enough to get my head out."
He said the crocodile then attempted to attack a second time, he managed to push it away but his hand was bitten in the process.
Mr McGowan said he believed the crocodile may have been a juvenile but wasn't able to estimate its size exactly.
After the bite, Mr McGowan was rushed to Haggerstone Island and was administered first aid by a friend.
"An emergency helicopter arrived to transport me to Thursday Island Hospital for treatment, where I was assessed; and I was later taken to Cairns Hospital for further treatment to my scalp lacerations and puncture wounds on my head and hand," he said.
Mr McGowan said as a keen surfer and diver, he understood the risks of his activities.
"[I] understand that when you enter the marine environment, you are entering territory that belongs to potentially dangerous animals, such as sharks and crocodiles," he said.
"I was simply in the wrong place, at the wrong time."
He also thanked the rescue and medical crews who helped him and said he was now concentrating on recovering from his injuries.
In a statement, the Queensland Department of Environment said the department had commenced an investigation into the incident and was working to "obtain further information."
"Crocodiles in the open ocean can be difficult to locate as the animals often travel tens of kilometres per day," the department said.
"It is important that crocodile sightings and crocodile incidents are reported in a timely manner.
"We investigate all crocodile sighting reports that we receive."
Haggerstone Island Resort is around 600 kilometres north of Cairns and advertises itself as a "family-owned, exclusive luxury resort that caters to high end clientele".
The entire island can be hired out for $7,600 a night and features snorkelling and spear-fishing tours.
Latest in series of croc attacks
The attack is the fifth incident involving crocodiles in the region since April.
Wildlife officers killed a 4.2-metre crocodile that attacked a man and ate his dog at a boat ramp at Bloomfield, south of Cooktown, in February.
In April, publican Kevin Darmody was killed by a crocodile while fishing at Lakefield National Park in Cape York.
A 65-year-old man was bitten on the foot by a crocodile as he slept on Newell Beach, while a man aged in his 40s suffered serious injuries to his head, abdomen and leg after he was bitten while spear fishing at Archer Point, near Cooktown the same month.
Meanwhile, there are calls for those who "recklessly" ignore crocodile warnings to be fined under a proposal being considered by the Queensland government.
The Environmental Defenders Office is calling for rangers to be given the power to fine people who "flagrantly" ignore official safety messaging.
