Saltwater Crocodile, Crocodylus porosus, Queensland, Australia
Reinhard Dirscherl/ullstein bild/Getty Images
- Australia’s
defence department was charged with a workplace safety breach after a crocodile
attack on two soldiers. - The
soldiers were hospitalised after being attacked by a 2.5-metre saltwater
crocodile while swimming in infested waters. - The
department is accused of failing to implement a number of policies.
Australia’s
defence department has been charged with a workplace safety breach after a
2.5-metre saltwater crocodile mauled two soldiers who went for a dip in
infested waters.
The
two servicemen – a private and a corporal – were hospitalised after escaping
from the jaws of the reptile, which attacked in August 2021 when they went for
a swim in Cape York Peninsula in northeastern Australia.
The
pair had been given permission to go fishing in an inflatable Zodiac boat in
the remote region, about 750 kilometres north of the Queensland city of Cairns.
After
anchoring the boat, they jumped into the water and were “almost
immediately” attacked by the crocodile, said Australia’s work health and
safety watchdog Comcare on Friday.
“The
crocodile dragged one of the soldiers underwater and mauled him while his
colleague fought off the animal, allowing the men to escape to the
Zodiac,” the government body said.
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Both
soldiers were badly injured, suffering bite and claw wounds, and they were
treated at Cairns Hospital.
Prosecutors
laid a single charge against the Department of Defence alleging it had breached
federal work health and safety laws, Comcare said.
The
department is accused of failing to implement a number of policies: prohibiting
workers from entering crocodile-inhabited water without an operational or
safety reason; doing risk assessments; and providing a detailed safety briefing
about the risk of crocodile attacks.
The
soldiers had been taking a landing craft from their base in Darwin to
Townsville for maintenance when they decided to go for the ill-fated swim.
If
found guilty, the maximum penalty is Aus$1.5 million.
The
defence department thanked members of the community and emergency workers who
helped the two men after the attack.
“The
safety of our people is paramount in all activities and critical to our mission
of defending Australia and its national interests,” it said in a statement
provided to AFP.
The
defence department confirmed a single charge had been laid against it but
declined further comment, citing the ongoing
legal proceedings.
