EXCLUSIVE VIDEO shows 'best beach in the world' is also a top Croc spot

WATCH THE VIDEO: 3.5m Croc at Palm Cove

Bryan Littlely

Journalist

Email
Last updated:
A picture shared on Facebook by Lindsay Cailes of the crocodile got people talking far and wide. Picture: Lindsay Cailes, Palm Cove/Northern Beaches Facebook Page
Canadian exchange lifeguard Emily Craven and colleague Nathan Pullen put out the warning signs at Palm Cove on Friday. Picture: Bryan Littlely

Video captured by a Canadian Lifeguard on her first week working on "the world's best beach" at Palm Cove shows the crocs want in on the action.

Emily Craven was on patrol on a jet ski when the 3.5m croc was first spotted around 1.30pm on Friday, and gave it a wide berth before jumping into action with fellow lifeguards to close the beach and warn people the length of Palm Cove it was there.

The croc was last seen at the southern end of Palm Cove, towards Clifton, around 4.30pm and has met up with a smaller crocodile.

"We spotted it at 1.30 just past the jetty and then it made its way over behind our nets there, just over the back, and then slowly made its way south to Clifton,’’ said Emily, who filmed the croc in action.

“I’ve been here just a week now, it’s my first week and my first croc… so I feel pretty lucky,’’ the Canadian on an International lifeguard exchange program said.

“We got everybody out and contacted SurfCom, our surf communications. Got everybody out of the water, cleared the beach and then we let the wildlife people know as well.

“And then we made our way down the beach to talk to the people that were kinda close to the water along the beach because it was making its way down south,’’ the 25-year-old said.

Lifeguard Emily Craven filmed the crocodile after "giving it a wide berth" when she spotted it while on a jet ski. Video: Emily Craven.

“Lots of people had questions so we were giving out information and informing people of what’s going on.

“It was last seen at Clifton Beach and apparently there were two of them over there… so our one made its way over there and there was already one over there. So they were both kind of bobbing up and down over at Clifton Beach and that was about 4.30pm.

“It gave us a good show.. Stayed along the surface of the water and made its way down south.”

Lifeguard colleague Nathan Pullen said in his 17 years living in the region and also working as a lifeguard, this was only the fifth croc he had seen at Palm Cove, recently named by travel magazine Conde Nast Traveller as the "world's best beach" despite it being frequented by crocodiles and stingers.

"I’ve seen only about four or five in my time so it is quite rare. But we do take the sightings very seriously,” he said.

“Obviously closing beaches that we think the crocodile might swim to, especially with the direction that we’ve been tracking it and keeping everyone aware that we do get crocs up in Far North Queensland.

"Be Crocwise when you're in croc country," was his advice.

Social media lit up with comments and pictures of the crocodile on Friday afternoon, with some suggesting it was nothing more than a log floating in the perfectly calm water.

But Queensland Lifeguard Service confirms it was more sinister than the possibility of getting splinters, closing the beach until being able to confirm the crocodile has moved on.

Signs will remain at Palm Cove advising that a crocodile has been spotted there for a full week following the last confirmed sighting at the location.

RELATED STORY: PALM COVE VOTED WORLD’S BEST BEACH

Some onlookers to the drama thought the crocodile was inside the netted safe swimming area. Listen to the audio. Video: Emily Craven

Support public interest journalism

Help us to continue covering local stories that matter. Please consider supporting below.

Got a news tip?

Send a news tip or submit a letter to the Newsport Editor here.

Comments

Comments are the opinions of readers and do not represent the views of Newsport, its staff or affiliates. Reader comments are moderated before publication to promote valuable, civil, and healthy community debate. Visit our comment guidelines if your comment has not been approved for publication.