A BROOME dentist has had a lucky escape after a 2.5m saltwater crocodile leapt into his dinghy and clamped its jaws around his upper chest during a barra fishing trip.
Bruce Rudeforth, 59, was fishing last week in Secure Bay, about 270 km from Derby, when the crocodile launched itself at him.
“Out of the corner of my eye, this thing came at me,” Dr Rudeforth told the West Australian.
“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.”
Dr Rudeforth was bleeding underneath his shredded shirt, but the close encounter was not over. The croc had disappeared underwater before returning again, forcing the dentist and fishing mate Neil Fong to strike it with an oar.
The pair started the boat’s outboard and drove to a bigger boat, where Dr Rudeforth was treated by his brother-in-law and fellow Broome dentist Peter Ellies.
Dr Rudeforth suffered puncture wounds and some tearing from the crocodile’s teeth.
Rather than call off the week-long trip, he continued fishing with stitched wounds for several days.
