A huge crocodile has been filmed leaping out of the water of one of New South Wales’ most popular fishing spots, jawing at two men on a tiny boat.
Two men were fishing along the Billabong Creek, near the NSW and Victoria border, late last week, when they were approached by the fully-grown crocodile.
It can be seen sitting docile in the water, with one of the men repeatedly telling the crocodile to ‘back up’ before it makes a sudden move.
Footage of a crocodile leaping out of the water at two fishermen on a tiny boat has emerged
The video, which has gone viral, was uploaded to Suzuki Marine Aust/NZ’s Facebook page.
It has been viewed more than 557,000 times since being uploaded last Thursday.
In the footage, the eyes of the crocodile can be seen peering at the fishermen, still mostly submerged.
It leaps at them suddenly, thrusting its whole body onto the boat.
It narrowly misses one of the men, but collapses a chair with its jaws before returning to the water.
The video ends with the crocodile returning to below the surface of the water, the two men fortunately unharmed.
The man grabs a fishing net and bats at the croc, which returns sullenly to below the water
People commenting on the video online are wondering why the crocodile was so comfortable approaching the boat, colloquially known as a ‘tinny’.
Some say tourist boats, which lure crocodiles in with food to show them off, are increasing an unnecessary danger.
‘Maybe if the stupid tour boats didn’t start feeding them right next the boat and teaching them to jump they wouldn’t be afraid to approach smaller boats,’ one wrote.
One person said they would have taken the beast on, writing: ‘We would have kicked it away with our feet and then had a beer.’
‘Someone woke up on the wrong side of the creek,’ said another.
It took a bite at the man behind the camera, but ended up only getting their chair (pictured)