Todd, an experienced local fisherman, is recovering in a Cairns hospital after a terrifying close call with a three-meter saltwater crocodile. He was on a weekend fishing trip with his dog, Dig Dig, when the accident occurred. Today, he is staring down a minimum 60-day hospital stay and several surgeries.
The attack occurred along the banks of the Shenandoah River where Todd had been fishing. So he got himself ready in anticipation of a wonderful day spent by the water. Little did he know, a beloved daily routine was soon to be replaced with a battle to survive. The crocodile pinched Todd’s left leg between her jaws, inflicting serious injury. He needed to reach down and find within himself, at that moment, the will and strength to escape. In a last ditch effort, Todd was able to claw himself about thirty feet onto dry land.
Thanks to Kevin Bevan, a good samaritan and passerby who heard Todd’s cries for help, Todd was rescued. Bevan put his arms under Todd and carried him to safety.
“It bit your old fella off!” – Kevin Bevan
We can’t overstate the importance of Witness Raelene Motton’s contributions to the events. She was walking in a parking garage and could still hear Todd’s screams from over 300 yards away. Thanks to her quick action, medical assistance arrived just in time to save his life.
Todd’s courageous battle through his horrific post-career experience serves as an example of how to overcome odds. He even liberated himself by removing one of his fingers from his hand, losing that digit in the process. Even through the trauma, Todd’s determination and strength of spirit shone through as he dealt with the sudden devastation caused by the attack.
Todd’s path to physical recovery has been agonizing. In the last three months he’s been in a Cairns hospital, he has had 14 surgeries to repair all of the injuries he suffered. His left arm is kept in a cast during this period, representing the massive destruction caused by the crocodile.
In an emotional visit, Todd’s mother, Cathy, came to visit him in the hospital. He was lying there shirtless, with bruises and cuts visible, and one eye swollen shut, but buoyed in spirit. The reunion with his family gave him great comfort as he faced this difficult and unexpected transition.
Although he’s thankful for his life, Todd’s journey has made him fear going fishing and being around water again. Yet despite his best intentions, he acknowledges that the attack has understandably left him more fearful. A previously happy-go-lucky fisherman, Todd is now faced with the prospect of danger waiting in waters he once felt safe in.
While Todd remains an avid and enthusiastic fisherman, he gets scared if he has to stay in one place or job for too long. This encounter has not only affected him physically but mentally, as he processes the trauma and adjusts to life post-attack.
Fortunately, the crocodile that mauled Todd was caught just a few hours after the attack, providing assurance to the shaken community. For Todd, the memory of that day will stay with him as he resumes his recovery.
