NORTHERN TERRITORY NEWS (Darwin, Australia) 15 April 08 Why I shot my mate to save him from croc (Matt Cunningham)
A Darwin crocodile farm worker has told how he accidentally shot his mate while saving him from the clutches of a crocodile.
Zac Fitzgerald has been hailed a hero for saving the life of his workmate, Jason Green, after he shot at the saltie that attacked Mr Green while they were out collecting eggs at Marrakai Station, about 120km east of Darwin.
But Mr Fitzgerald told the Northern Territory News he was just doing his job.
"I just started shooting because he wasn't getting released,'' he said.
"He was getting smashed. We didn't know I had shot him until we went to the hospital.''
Mr Green has told family and friends he would have been dead if his mate had not shot the croc.
"Jason says he's lucky to be alive and is grateful that Zac is a good shot,'' his father, John, said after the attack.
Mr Fitzgerald said the croc came from nowhere to attack Mr Green.
"It came over the nest and dragged him over the top of the nest and into the water,'' he said.
"I was four metres away and I just went bang, bang, bang.''
Mr Fitzgerald said Mr Green had his back to him, blocking his shot at the croc.
"I couldn't see the croc,'' he said. "I was shooting straight past him.
"One bullet hit him (in the back of the arm) and the rest went past him.
"I was just trying to get as close to him as possible and hit whatever was in front of him. He was screaming. He was just yelling out.''
It took five shots before the crocodile let go.
"I fired one shot in the hole when I got there - bang, no crocodile - then I fired the four shots at my mate and one at the crocodile as it took off,'' Mr Fitzgerald said.
"It just happened so quick, but it was almost like it was in slow motion.''
Mr Fitzgerald said his mate had been "very grateful'' to him for saving his life. He said he hoped he could now put the incident behind him and get on with his work.
Why I shot my mate to save him from croc