Warning to tourists as 'gruesome' job after crocodile attacks revealed

David McMahon wants people to be reminded of exactly what happens if a crocodile attack occurs.

A woman posing on the bonnet of a car on Cahills Crossing (left), David McMahon talking to camera wearing a hat (middle) and two women sitting by the water's edge of Cahill Crossing on a camp chair with a beer (right).
Tour guide David McMahon pointed out the often forgotten about aspect of crocodile attacks. Source: TikTok/Instagram

An outback tour guide has shone a light on the "gruesome" aftermath of crocodile attacks in a bid to warn people against unsafe behaviour in croc country.

David McMahon told Yahoo News he's seen his fair share of "stupidity" in croc country, explaining he spotted a group of women posing for photos against their 4WD in ankle-deep water at Cahills Crossing last month, a notorious causeway in the Northern Territory where crocodiles are known to live.

He also spoke of a group of visitors smiling for pictures and even pulling up camp chairs beside the water's edge to enjoy a beer and look out over the croc habitat, with pictures on social media joking they "risked limbs to get the perfect photos".

A woman poses for a picture at Cahills Crossing (left) and a group of people walking along the water causeway (right).
Despite Cahills Crossing being a notorious spot for crocodiles, visitors continue to behave 'recklessly'. Source: TikTok/Instagram

While many may dismiss loitering around croc habitat as a 'do at your own risk' behaviour, McMahon explained that "it's not just the individual" impacted if a crocodile attack occurs and wildlife rangers are the ones left to pick up the pieces — literally.

"When someone gets taken it's not just that person that suffers the consequences. Rangers have the gruesome job of recovering what's left of the body and then they have to find and kill the crocodile responsible," he explained.

A crocodile is barely visible in the water at Cahills Crossing.
There have been two recorded deaths from crocodile attacks at Cahills Crossing. Source: Instagram

The remains of a 40-year-old tourist who fell into the Annan River, south of Cooktown in Queensland were found inside a crocodile in August and McMahon said it's easy for people to forget that it's actually someone's day job to search for and retrieve the body. There have been five record deaths in Kakadu National Park, where Cahills Crossing is situated, and two alone have occurred at that spot.

"It might take three or four crocs killed before they find the crocodile with remains in its belly and it's just not a job anyone would enjoy," he said.

McMahon hasn't been involved in retrieving a body but knows many rangers who have. Tragedies happen, he said, but "when the behaviour is so avoidable" most of the time, rangers are left feeling "very frustrated".

"They have to keep on pointing out that people are acting recklessly when there are such clear signs everywhere," he said. "It's extremely easy to stay safe around crocs."

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