NATIONAL POST (Toronto, Ontario) 05 October 05 Girl, 10, rescued by family after being dragged off yacht by crocodile
(AFP): A 10-year-old girl rescued from the jaws of a crocodile in Western Australia by her father and brother was lucky to be alive, her mother said yesterday. Chantal Burnup was sitting on the stern of a yacht off the coast of the remote Kimberley region when the reptile started dragging her into the water. Her father grabbed hold of her while her brother beat the crocodile over the head with a stick. The attack follows recent fatalities that have sparked calls for croc hunting to be resumed as their numbers have increased after more than 30 years on the protected species list. Saltwater, or estuarine, crocodiles are among the most aggressive predators, growing up to seven metres long and weighing more than a tonne.