A fisherman has become the latest victim of a crocodile attack in Western Australia’s Kimberley region after reportedly stepping on a saltwater crocodile while fishing at Barred Creek, about 40 kilometres north of Broome.
The 35-year-old man was standing in waist-deep water late last month when the encounter occurred. Authorities said the crocodile bit him after he accidentally trod on the animal. He was taken to Broome Hospital for treatment and was later discharged.
The incident marks the fourth known crocodile attack involving people in the Kimberley within the past six months, renewing safety warnings around waterways across northern Western Australia.
Popular Kimberley Creek Becomes Scene of Latest Attack
Barred Creek is a well-known recreation spot used by tourists and residents for fishing, mud crabbing and four-wheel driving. The area is accessed by the unsealed Manari Road north of Broome and includes mangroves and creek systems where saltwater crocodiles are regularly seen.
The Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions said initial reports described the crocodile as about three metres long. Officers attended the site and spoke with those involved, but the animal’s size could not be confirmed.
A trap was deployed in the creek immediately after the incident, but authorities said there were no further sightings of the crocodile and the animal was not caught.
Saltwater crocodiles are known to inhabit the Dampier Peninsula’s waterways, including mangroves, creek systems and tidal areas. Wildlife authorities have repeatedly warned that crocodiles may be present even when they cannot be seen from the bank or shoreline.
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Fourth Kimberley Crocodile Attack in Six Months
The Barred Creek incident follows several recent crocodile encounters in the Kimberley. In January, a man suffered lacerations to his body after being attacked by a three-metre saltwater crocodile near the remote La Djardarr Bay Community on the Dampier Peninsula.
In April, another man was attacked by a large crocodile while sleeping in his swag at a popular camping spot beyond Coulomb Point Nature Reserve. Earlier this year, a pet dog survived with minor injuries after being dragged into the Upper Ord River, about 70 kilometres south of Kununurra.
The latest incident comes as crocodile safety remains a major concern across northern Western Australia. Earlier this year, hundreds of swimmers took part in the annual Lake Argyle event despite heightened attention on crocodile activity in the region, highlighting the ongoing balance between recreation and wildlife risk. Read more about the event after hundreds took part in the Lake Argyle swim following a crocodile attack in WA.
The DBCA has urged residents and visitors to be “crocwise” by taking precautions around rivers, creeks, beaches and mangrove areas. People fishing, camping or crabbing in the Kimberley are advised to keep clear of the water’s edge where possible, avoid entering murky or tidal water, and never assume an area is safe simply because a crocodile is not visible.
Official crocodile safety information is available through the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.
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