THIS is the heart-stopping moment a crocodile dubbed “Bonecrusher” is tackled by seven zookeepers – leaving one just inches from death.
Billy Collett dived out out of the way as the 16ft beast lunged for his head, narrowly escaping 66 razor sharp gnashers.
Cover ImagesA zookeeper narrowly escaped death when an angry crocodile lashed out – here staff try to hold down the beast[/caption]
Cover ImagesThe beast was having a dental check up and to keep his mouth open a wooden block was inserted between his jaws[/caption]
The crazed reptile, Elvis, was about to undergo a dental check up when he lashed out – injuring the croc expert.
Billy was attempting to restrain Elvis when suddenly, a dense, wooden block that was keeping his jaw ajar, flung out and smashed into his head.
“I didn’t comprehend what had hit me in the head until I opened my eyes and saw that his jaws were unrestrained,” Billy said.
Fortunately staff were quick to act as they were used to Elvis’ notoriously short temper.
They clung onto his back as he thrashed around before wrestling him to the ground and securing a rope around his jaw.
The whole thing was over in less than 15 seconds, but it felt like an eternity
Billy Collett
Billy said: “At first, I didn’t even know what had hit me – I was stunned.
“I’ve captured hundreds of large crocodiles over the years, but I have never felt anything like the power Elvis displayed when he started thrashing like that.”
Though momentarily dazed, Billy managed to get himself and the rest of the team out of harm’s way and away from the cranky croc.
“At that moment, I knew I had to get myself and the team out of there immediately,” he added.
Elvis had been displaying signs of a dental infection and a tooth had erupted out of the bottom of his jaw.
Although a muscle relaxant was administered prior to the check up it did little to take the edge off his short fuse.
With Billy sitting on top of Elvis, a sturdy wooden block was inserted between his top and bottom teeth – but it was at this moment the colossal reptile lost his cool.
Violent head shakes meant Elvis knocked the 5kg, hardwood jaw chock loose, sending it flying into Billy’s head.
“The whole thing was over in less than 15 seconds, but it felt like an eternity.
“I’m so thankful to the team for reacting as quickly as they did and that we all came out in one piece,” he said.
Although the keeper was left feeling grateful to be alive he didn’t escape unscathed and was left with “a pretty decent bump” on his head.
“That’s the best-case scenario when you’re dealing with a half-ton croc!” he reckoned.
After a brief reset and additional muscle relaxant, keepers successfully restrained Elvis.
Head Vet Dr. Robin Crisman and specialist dentist Dr. Pete Tazawa conducted X-rays on Elvis’s jaw, revealing a problematic tooth requiring immediate removal.
Billy emphasised the necessity of tooth removal, noting a visible tooth growth.
X-rays were crucial to identify the cause of tooth discolouration and deformities.
Despite natural tooth replacement in saltwater crocodiles, they needed to ensure no systemic issues affecting tooth appearance.
“Dr. Robin found that previous dental issues in 2022 led to abnormal tooth growth.
Fortunately, the X-rays show the next set of teeth coming in perfectly,” Billy explained.
Elvis came to The Australian Reptile Park in 2007 from the Northern Territory where he was causing havoc to fisherman’s boats in Darwin Harbour.
OTHER CROC ATTACKS
In March 2024 a 15-foot crocodile sunk its teeth into a zookeeper in front of terrified onlookers.
The experienced reptile expert had been giving a display to dozens of visitors at a Crocodile Creek theme park in South Africa when he was viciously attacked.
The shocked crocodile handler had been poking the beast with a stick whilst inside its closure, however, provoking it to whip its head round and take a bite.
But panic soon set in when the man-eating Nile Crocodile – the largest living reptile with the most powerful bite force in the world – would not let go.
Having clamped its jaws onto the man just below the waist, it soon pulled him to the ground before a second slightly smaller crocodile ran to join the attack.
Tourists began screaming for help before the beast eventually released its grip, allowing the zookeeper to stand up and run to safety.
And in September 2022, Crocodile Creek handler Sean Le Clus was also attacked when he sat on the back of their main attraction Hannibal – a huge 16ft-long Nile Crocodile.
Sean had got off the giant croc’s back as a female approached but it whipped his jaws round and savaged his leg.
Fortunately, the croc also let go of Sean, who screamed in agony as he limped off to get medical help for a number of deep teeth marks in his leg – before returning to work the same day.
It is not known if the latest attack was also carried out by Hannibal.
The world’s largest crocodile was a terrifying man-eating beast known for gobbling up children and fishermen.
Dubbed “Lolong,” the 2,400lb monster was the stuff of nightmares and terrified locals for years before he met his stress induced demise.
The colossal croc was captured in the Philippines in 2007 after the local community decided enough was enough and they no longer wished to live in fear.
Cover ImagesElvis became aggravated despite being given a muscle relaxant[/caption]
Cover ImagesA zookeeper was left with a large bump on his head after the wooden block in the croc’s mouth was thrown out[/caption]