Teen lucky to be alive after croc attacks turtle
A Townsville teenager who jumped into the sea to save a struggling turtle has had the shock of his life after the struggling animal was eaten by a crocodile that crept up on them.
Coree Summerville, 15, escaped unscathed after his kind-hearted rescue attempt took a dramatic turn at The Strand pier on Townsville's foreshore.
He'd been fishing there on Saturday when he noticed the turtle struggling and belly up in the water.
Coree, 15, said he was lucky to escape with his life after the croc attacked. 9News
An image of the injured turtle who was taken by the crocodile. 9News
"After about 20 minutes it floated ashore and we went down onto the beach and saw that it was a turtle struggling to swim," Coree told 9News.
What he didn't realise was that a croc was watching.
After the teen hit the water, the reptile struck, biting the turtle Coree was holding.
"The croc came out of nowhere and just took a chunk of it," said Coree.
The crocodile ate half the turtle before swimming out to sea. (File image) Getty
"I just dropped the turtle, ran, I was freaking out."
The teenager said he and his friends rang the HQ Aquarium Turtle Hospital after the attack.
"I then jumped back in the water and swam this turtle to shore," said Coree.
"I was pretty scared – if that croc had missed the turtle it could've got me."
Despite the 'no swimming' signs, Coree leapt in to try and save the injured turtle. 9News
Signs in the area warn about the presence of crocodiles. 9News
Swimming enclosures on The Strand esplanade were closed after the drama, with the croc to be targeted for removal if authorities can find it.
Croc sightings are relatively common in the Townsville area with dozens reported last year.
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