Up next
Author
Share and Follow
FacebookXRedditPinterestWhatsApp

What drives the will to survive — is it a conscious decision or instinct? From surviving a fall from the sky, to escaping the jaws of a crocodile … can life ever be the same again after facing extreme adversity or life-threatening situations? Insight explores this in episode Will to Survive. Watch on SBS On Demand.

Thumbnail of Will To Survive

I pulled up in my Landcruiser, cracked a beer and let my dog Dig Dig out of the car to an area of the creek where I thought we were alone. I would soon find out I was wrong.
We walk up a goat track — trying to find a clearing in the creek — so I can flick my fishing rod and hopefully snag a barramundi.
I take about two steps when I stop in the clearing. Something has grabbed my leg from behind.
Surely, it’s a mate who’s spotted me and is trying to shock me.

But I look down and there is a 3m saltwater crocodile hanging off my left leg.

It drops me, shakes it head and trips me over. He drags me down into the river where the water level is at my chest.
In the struggle, I manage to grab a mangrove tree’s branches, and I hold on for my life.
The croc sits dead still in the water with my leg still in its jaw. I think f–k, I’ve got to do something — I’ve got to try to get out.
I try to pull myself off the bank but as soon as I do that, the croc death rolls me. Water splashes and my knee pops out — just like a matchstick.
I think I’m going to die.

I have started pulling myself up again and it goes for another death roll — popping and twisting that same leg.

Hanging on for life

While all this is happening, Dig Dig is barking. I grab him and think ‘poor little bugger’.
I start hitting the crocodile on the head with Dig Dig thinking maybe it’ll let go of me and take the dog.
The croc pulls me again; I let go of Dig Dig and hold the branch again.

Dig Dig runs along the croc’s head, onto my back and takes off into the bush.

a large crocodile inside a cage

The saltwater crocodile that attacked Todd was captured after the attack. Source: Supplied

The crocodile goes for another bite, I go to push him with my left hand, and he pins it to my left leg with its teeth. The big tooth is right in the middle of my hand.

So that I can have my hand back, I use all my strength to pull my finger off my hand — leaving me one less finger.
He’s got my leg in his mouth and he’s growling and growling. Then he gets both my legs in his jaw, rolls me again and pops out the other knee.
I start yelling at the top of my lungs: “Help, croc!” but no one hears.
I’ve been holding on to the branch for so long that my arms feel like they’re burning and I have to let go.
The croc then pulls me into the water again.

I hold my breath and think that I’m not coming back above the water. I think, ‘this is it’.

‘I am too young to die’

He spins me back but it the creek is shallow enough that I can touch the bottom with my hand and I manage to climb back up to the bank.
I yell for help again as it’s all I can do to try and survive — I feel very lonely.
I yell for what feels like forever, my throat becomes so sore and start to lose hope.
But then I hear a faint voice of a woman say: “Help is coming, love.”
This is when I get my second wind to hang on as I don’t want to die.

I am 28 years old and too young to die.

A man then runs into the creek clearing and shouts: “Toddy!”
It is my mate, Kevin Beven. He comes over, which startles the croc enough to let me go.
Kev puts his arms around mine, and drags me 10 metres from the bank onto dry land.
My pants are hanging down.
He looks down and says: “It bit your old fella off!”

I look down and it’s still there. We burst into laughter.

I think I’m finally safe but then the crocodile comes at me again.
I lay there and Kev scares it off. Three young blokes are now here who throw branches and rocks to spook it, and it takes off back into the water.

The ambulance then arrives. Hallelujah.

Recovering from the attack

I was in the Cairns hospital for three months and underwent 14 surgeries during that time.
Because it was both of my legs, recovery was hard. I couldn’t even use a wheelchair because my hand was injured but I was eventually able to walk again.

I spoke to some therapists at the hospital a couple of times, and they pretty much said: “you’re right”. And I was pretty good — I think because I don’t mind talking about what I’m feeling.

a man's injured legs in braces in a hospital bed

Todd stayed in hospital for three months recovering from the attack. Source: Supplied

It turns out that the woman’s voice I heard was a local named Raelene Motton who was 300m away in the carpark of a pub having a cigarette when she heard my cries.

Kev was driving into the carpark — funnily enough, looking for his dog — when Raelene enlisted his help.

If it wasn’t for her good ears, I would be dead.

‘The big things don’t worry me anymore’

People will say: “What happened to your finger?” And mostly, I’ll just say: “work incident”. Other times, I’ll tell the story and get the photos out.
It’s been 14 years, and thinking or talking about the attack still gives me the heebie-jeebies. I’d be lying to you if I said it didn’t.

But worse things happen to other people; people die in car crashes every day. Many people aren’t still here to tell their stories.

a middle aged woman with a black fringe and in a black singlet top visits a young man in hospital who has his left arm in a cast and no shirt on

Todd’s mum Cathy visiting him in hospital while he was recovering. Source: Supplied

I still love fishing but am a little bit more cautious around water these days. And because I thought everything was all over for me that day, nothing really fazes me now.

The little things don’t worry me but to be trapped in one spot at the same job — that’s my worst nightmare.
The big things don’t worry me anymore either, like getting a house or having to be rich. I’ve got enough money. It’s not about that for me.
It’s about just having a good time — that’s what it’s about now.
Share and Follow
FacebookXRedditPinterestWhatsApp
You May Also Like

Bangladesh Mourns as Trailblazing Former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia Passes Away at 80

Khaleda Zia, who became Bangladesh’s first female prime minister in 1991 and…
A teenage boy uses his phone for social media in Sydney, Nov. 8, 2024.

AI Chatbots Under Fire: Navigating Australia’s Stricter Online Safety Regulations

Weeks after blocking anyone aged under 16 from social media, Australia is…
Coral Adventurer

Australian Cruise Ship Detained After Grounding Incident Off Papua New Guinea Coast

The cruise ship Coral Adventurer, based in Cairns, has been detained by…

Bondi’s Courageous Ahmed Al-Ahmed Shares Story of Heroic Rescue

In a gripping recount of bravery, Bondi resident Ahmed Al-Ahmed described the…
The worst of the rainfall is set to hit in the next two days, according to the Bureau of Meteorology.

Queensland Braces for Flash Floods: Urgent Warnings Issued Amid Torrential Downpours

Residents in North Queensland are being told to prepare for life-threatening flash…
A passing driver then boxed the car in to prevent the carjacker from driving off, leading him to jump out of the car and run to a waiting Nissan Navara with registration 1OL9CF.

Melbourne Carjacking Fiasco: Police Search for Suspect After Bold Daylight Attempt

Police are asking the public to help identify a man who fled…
LSD, cocaine, heroin and methamphetamine were all allegedly located in the house.

Two Individuals Charged Following Discovery of Semi-Automatic Firearms and Narcotics in Melbourne Residence

Two people have been hit with multiple trafficking charges after more than…
Former TV footy reporter Tiffany Salmond reveals her VERY surprising NRL crush

Unveiled: Tiffany Salmond’s Unexpected NRL Crush Shocks Fans!

Tiffany Salmond recently shared some intriguing insights with her social media followers,…