Crocodile attack on Clive Palmer golf course ‘first in years’

The golfer bitten by a crocodile on a Far North Queensland golf course owned by MP Clive Palmer was the first victim of such an attack in the five to six years since the reptiles moved in.

John Lahiff was playing a solo round at the Port Douglas course yesterday afternoon when a ball he struck landed near the water.

Walking to retrieve it, he failed to see a 1.2m crocodile sunbaking on the bank.

On his way back past it, the crocodile struck, biting Mr Lahiff once on the leg before splashing back into the water.

“I didn’t feel a thing,” Mr Lahiff said.

“The only pain I had was last night when they were sticking needles into me.”

There are eight to nine crocodiles living on the course, and warning signs are prevalent.

Authorities believe it is the first attack since crocodiles were moved onto the course several years ago.

Mr Lahiff said the attack was partly his fault for having disturbed the crocodile and he hoped it was not removed from the course.