Stalking crocodile forced four Dutchmen searching for crabs to spend night up a tree

Four Dutchmen had a harrowing night after scrambling up a tree to avoid a crocodile when their boat capsized in rough seas in Darwin, Australia. The four men, aged in their 30s, were stuck for more than 20 hours in mangroves after their boat capsized while they were trying to catch mud crabs in Darwin Harbour at about 11am (CST) on Sunday.

"There was one croc, but the sandflies, they really get you," one of the men later said. Director of CareFlight, Ian Badham, said apart from being covered in insect bites, the men were in good health despite their ordeal. "After their boat capsized they got themselves into the mangroves and spent the night in the tallest mangrove tree they could find," Mr Badham said. "They were bitten savagely by sandflies and mosquitoes and were very worried about being eaten by larger things.



"They did see crocodiles, but they [the men] stayed out of the water," he said. It was only on Monday just after 8am (CST) when the tide went out that the men were able to get back to their small craft and activate the emergency beacon, Mr Badham said. The beacon alerted the Australian Maritime Safety Authority, which alerted the Northern Territory Police, CareFlight and a commercial helicopter.

The commercial helicopter spotted the men and CareFlight then winched them up to safety and across to a sandbar to be checked out. Larry Tessman from Jayrow Helicopters, the first to spot the men, said they were relieved to see his chopper. "They were in the mangroves and mud, and one bloke came out and waved to us," he said. "They did say there was a croc watching them," he added. Mr Badham said the men were OK but feeling embarrassed.

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