A Northern Territory goose hunter fought off a crocodile by wrestling it and poking it in the eyes, police say.
The 20-year-old was hunting on Friday evening in the wetlands near the remote community of Peppimenarti, about 320km southwest of Darwin.
He had waded into the water to retrieve a goose he had shot when a 2m crocodile launched itself at him, latching on to his right arm, and tried to drag him underwater.
"Like a true Territorian he wrestled the crocodile and was able to shake it off finally by poking its eyes," Duty Superintendent Louise Jorgensen said yesterday.
The man had waded back to shore and received first aid, and was taken on a quad bike to Wudaduk Outstation "where further first aid in the form of Carlton Dry was administered", she said.
Police and clinic staff arrived to find him in a mildly intoxicated state.
They took him to the clinic to clean his wounds before sending him to Darwin via Care Flight for treatment for numerous puncture wounds, tears and claw marks to his arm and back.