NORTHERN TERRITORY NEWS (Darwin, Australia) 04 April 08 How I escaped from the jaws of a croc (Nadja Hainke)
The woman who survived a crocodile attack said she would have been "crushed'' to death if her heroic husband hadn't rescued her by poking his fingers into the saltie's eyes.
Wendy Petherick, 36, fought back bravely when the 2.5m croc attacked her as she washed her face in a creek.
She called for help from her 39-year-old husband Norm Moreen, who was swimming nearby. He leapt on the animal's head and jabbed it in the eyes.
Ms Petherick suffered leg and hand injuries. She was recovering in Royal Darwin Hospital last night.
``We got away because we both fought back,'' Ms Petherick said.
``If my husband hadn't been there, I would have been killed.''
The attack happened after the couple stopped to freshen up at Walker Creek in Litchfield National Park on Wednesday evening. They were driving 160km to Darwin from the nearby Woolaning community.
Ms Petherick was standing on the creek bank when the crocodile exploded out of the water and locked its jaws around both of her legs and dragged her into the water.
``I saw the croc out of the corner of my eye,'' she said.
Ms Petherick said she grabbed the crocodile's jaws with both hands and tried to pull them open.
``I'm a little person,'' she said. ``With a croc that size, I had to fight back.
``If I had been in the water, it would have grabbed my hip, rolled me and crushed me instantly.
``It would have death rolled me and killed me.''
Mr Moreen came to the rescue as his wife fought the saltie.
``He just jumped straight on top of his head, looking for his eyes,'' Ms Petherick said.
The crocodile let go when Mr Moreen poked it in the eyes. It then swam off into a nearby drain.
Mr Moreen said he was not scared of tackling the animal to free his wife.
``There was no time for fear you see, when you want to save someone, especially someone you love,'' he said.
``It was all common sense.''
Mr Moreen said he had seen many crocodiles in Litchfield.
``There are heaps of crocs out there _ even bigger than two metres.''
Ms Petherick said more signs were needed to warn locals and tourists.
``I think Parks and Wildlife should put up more signs. The biggest issue is safety,'' she said.
Ms Petherick suffered five 2cm cuts on both upper legs and hands.
She was first rushed to a relative's house at Woolaning and then medivacced to Darwin.
Treating surgeon Dr David Read said the injuries were small considering the extent of the attack.
Ms Petherick is expected to be released in two days.
How I escaped from the jaws of a croc