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Crocodile image via Shutterstock

Frenchman fights off crocodile in Australia after it latches onto his head

After fighting off the crocodile the man made it to shore and was rushed to hospital with bite marks to his head, neck and shoulders.

A FRENCH DECKHAND today admitted he was lucky to be alive after escaping with bite wounds when a crocodile latched onto his head in northern Australia.

Yoann Galeran, 29, had swum out from shore to retrieve a moored dinghy after dark at Nhulunbuy yesterday when the two-metre saltwater croc attacked, grabbing him by the head and rolling him in the water.

“I just feel that I’ve been lucky and I just think if it was a bigger crocodile, I maybe wouldn’t have any head,” he told ABC radio.

“I was swimming, and maybe four or five metres from the boat, I just feel like rocks hitting on my head and something strong and I just realise (it was) a croc,” he added.

“I just had the feeling that if I want to fight for my life, I just need to move all my body as much as I can.

“He just hit me on the top, on the left side, and on top of my neck and tried to push me down in the water. I punched him anywhere.”

After fighting off the beast, he managed to scramble to safety aboard the dinghy and make it to shore where he was rushed to a nearby hospital for treatment to bite marks to his head, neck and shoulders.

Children playing in the area

A Northern Territory police spokeswoman said: “So very lucky that he managed to swim away. It could have been a lot more dire, the outcome.”

Saltwater crocodiles, which can grow up to seven metres long and weigh more than a tonne, are a common feature of Australia’s tropical north.

They have been protected since the 1970s and their numbers have increased steadily since, along with the number of human encounters.

Galeran said children often played in the area where he was attacked and urged authorities to capture the crocodile.

“I think they need to do something with him, probably kill him,” he said.

- © AFP 2013.

Read: Filipino town goes into mourning over death of killer crocodile>

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    Mute James Murphy
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    Apr 22nd 2013, 9:33 AM

    The crocodile must be related to Suarez

    339
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    Mute B2
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    Apr 22nd 2013, 11:30 AM

    hahah

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    Mute Gerry Ivie
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    Apr 22nd 2013, 9:36 AM

    I had my head trapped in a bears mouth once. It took the Museum Curator nearly an hour to free me.

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    Mute Fergus Murphy
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    Apr 22nd 2013, 10:14 AM

    I misread the first line as ‘A French D*ckhead….’. My bad! What a lucky escape!

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    Mute Stephen
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    Apr 22nd 2013, 11:55 AM

    Ha ha, me too. I thought ‘jeez give the poor chap a break!’

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    Mute MISTER E
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    Apr 22nd 2013, 9:30 AM

    Now there’s a story for the grandkids not to many around that can say they took on a croc and survived

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    Mute Itiswhatitis
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    Apr 22nd 2013, 9:22 AM

    Another reason not to goto Aussie Land.

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    Mute dave dunn
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    Apr 22nd 2013, 9:46 AM

    Awwwwww crikey

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    Mute Justin Devaney
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    Apr 22nd 2013, 3:04 PM

    MERD!!!! Sophie, Elp me, Zee beeg crocodile !!! Ee azz me by zee ed.

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    Mute Justin Devaney
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    Apr 22nd 2013, 3:07 PM

    Old on Yoann, I weel get zee big stick an free ur ed from zee beeg crocodial s mouth, MERD!!!

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    Mute John O'Neill
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    Apr 28th 2013, 11:35 AM

    The croc had a frog in his throat…

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    Mute Brian Daly
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    Apr 22nd 2013, 10:04 AM

    Bet he’s gutted nobody caught this epic battle on video for YouTube. The guy must have nuts to think about entering the water anywhere in that part of Australia.

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    Mute Scott Handsaker
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    Apr 22nd 2013, 10:00 AM

    Bloody tourists don’t read. I’m sure the place was littered with “do not swim – crocodiles” yet they still go in! I’m sure kids play there for sure ON LAND. But yeah let’s kill the crocodile????

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    Mute Deirdre Mac Mahon
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    Apr 22nd 2013, 10:12 AM

    T’was a frenchie
    Tho’ seems to me that the the word for crocodile is the same in français….

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    Mute Joan Ruud Donnellan-Wijnen
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    Apr 22nd 2013, 10:43 AM

    @ Scott.. I thought he was a deckhand? He should’ve known better anyway..!

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    Mute Stephen
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    Apr 22nd 2013, 10:39 AM

    Why didn’t he put a stick in his jaws like Tarzan use to..

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    Mute Niall Mullane
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    Apr 22nd 2013, 11:08 AM

    I guess the croc realised he Doesn’t like frogs legs.

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    Mute Mike Clinton
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    Apr 22nd 2013, 9:26 AM

    Mick Dundee from Walkabout creek.

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    Mute Barry O'Brien
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    Apr 22nd 2013, 11:11 AM

    Regardless if there was “no swim” signs everywhere, fact is this lad bet the tar out of croc in his own back yard and escaped. Nothing but respect for him.

    http://youtu.be/9XfrKnCzfj4

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    Mute John Geraghty
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    Apr 22nd 2013, 12:38 PM

    Love the link!

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    Mute Shane King
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    Apr 22nd 2013, 11:54 AM

    I’m surprised he didn’t surrender straight away.

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    Mute mikeobrien4FM
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    Apr 22nd 2013, 9:36 AM

    Best Journal.ie headline EVER!!!!!

    14
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    Mute Harry Martin
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    Apr 22nd 2013, 4:07 PM

    Le stupid Frenchman thought the croc was a Lacoste sleeping bag ,but why did he try to get into it head first ?

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    Mute enda
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    Apr 22nd 2013, 9:39 AM

    That’s one way to get ahead in life

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    Mute Paul Johnston
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    Apr 22nd 2013, 11:16 AM

    He was nearly (French) Toast hahahahahahahahha :-D ….

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    Mute Lillian O'Connor
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    Apr 22nd 2013, 9:33 AM

    glad you escaped

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    Mute Brendan Crowe
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    Apr 22nd 2013, 11:21 AM

    I did not first read that as French Deckhand

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    Mute Tony Le Blanc
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    Apr 22nd 2013, 5:40 PM

    ” In NORTHERN AUSTRALIA, Yoann Galeran, 29, had swum out from shore to retrieve a moored dinghy AFTER DARK” I seeeeeeee

    “Man on safari gets bitten by lion while dressed in bacon suit and practicing wounded gazelle cry” would be only slightly more ridiculous.

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    Mute Fergus Gillic
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    Apr 22nd 2013, 11:27 AM

    the croc obviously has a taste for french food.

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    Mute Leon Taylor
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    Apr 22nd 2013, 11:15 AM

    Poor guy at least he’s not one of those fools who puts his head in a crocodiles mouth for the circus and is shocked when he gets bitten.

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    Mute Robbie Redmond
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    Apr 22nd 2013, 11:36 AM

    Well hé didnt lose the head

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    Mute Eamonn O'Riain
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    Apr 22nd 2013, 10:31 AM

    Snap-tastic!!

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    Mute SquideyeMagpie
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    Apr 22nd 2013, 11:25 AM

    Makes a change for a frenchman not to be doing the eating of an exotic or unusual animal. Irony right there folks

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    Mute Lorcan Keane
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    Apr 22nd 2013, 12:17 PM

    Must have thought it was a big Frog!!

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    Mute Michael cunnane
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    Apr 22nd 2013, 4:36 PM

    Could have been worse, could have been Luis Suarez!!!

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    Mute caroline morley
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    Apr 22nd 2013, 9:47 AM

    Croc tears !!!

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    Mute Frank Kelly
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    Apr 22nd 2013, 10:01 PM

    I ate crocodile once in Africa. Just wanted to turn the tables but I made sure it was dead first and well cooked !

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    Mute Eggfuel
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    Apr 22nd 2013, 4:25 PM

    Hh

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    Mute Oisin Grant Lang Curry
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    Apr 22nd 2013, 8:04 PM

    The croc is related to Suarez!! :)

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