National

Man's back and legs mauled in croc attack near creek

Jan 20, 2026

A crocodile (file image) — A man is in a stable condition with back and leg wounds after being mauled by a crocodile. -AAP Image

A man has been attacked by a crocodile near a creek in northern Australia.

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The man in his 20s suffered puncture wounds to his lower back and legs on Tuesday morning, emergency services have confirmed.

He was taken to Ingham hospital in a stable condition after emergency services were called to a Victoria Plantation address in north Queensland about 8.30am.

The address runs adjacent to Palm Creek, a Herbert River tributary between Cairns and Townsville.

The man was later airlifted to Townsville University Hospital, a Queensland Ambulance Service spokesperson told AAP.

No one else was injured in the attack.

It comes after the Queensland government announced an update to its crocodile management plan.

In December, the state government introduced expanded laws that gave the green light to remove crocodiles threatening popular swimming holes and waterways.

Crocodile removal zones were expanded, including at Ingham close to where the attack occurred.

The state government said it had updated its crocodile management plan in a bid to protect communities and make it easier to remove the giant reptiles, preventing potential attacks.