Tourist bitten by crocodile

A TOURIST bitten on the face by a crocodile in WA’s Kimberley remains in a stable condition in hospital, four days after the attack.
The New South Wales tourist, aged in her 50s, was with her husband aboard the charter catamaran Discovery One when she was attacked during a swim at midday on Friday at what was thought to be a safe waterhole in the Prince Regent River region.
She was flown out on a charter plane and then taken to Broome Hospital by the Royal Flying Doctor Service, and on Friday night she had several hours of facial surgery for minor bite injuries.
A hospital spokesman on Tuesday afternoon confirmed the woman was yet to be discharged and was still recovering.
Kimberley Discovery Cruises operates the Discovery One vessel and spokeswoman Jill Moffitt said the victim was in good spirits and continuing recovering well.
She said the couple were even contemplating a return to the Kimberley in the future.
“Their first concern was that the other passengers can continue their cruise and aren’t too downcast about it all,” Ms Moffitt said.
“She had quite a long surgery and the surgeons took their time and did it very delicately because its her face of course.
“They’ve very pleased with the treatment ... and it looks like she will make a full recovery. They’re very philosophical about it. They realise these things can happen.
“They said they had a fabulous time up until (the attack). We’re talking to them about perhaps coming back again.
“It’s a wonderful place because it’s a real wilderness area and they were loving the experience.”
Ms Moffitt said she spoke to the captain after the attack and the 22 passengers were “very concerned” but also relieved the woman had escaped with minor injuries.
“I don’t know how big the crocodile was or how it actually happened or who jumped in but her husband asked me to thank the crew for everything they did,” she added.
Ms Moffitt said the waterhole was considered safe but a very high tide may have washed the crocodile into it.
“It’s a place where a lot of tour operators take people for a dip. It reinforces that this is a wilderness area and the crocodile’s domain,” she said.