Crocodile handler dragged into water during feeding show at Shoalhaven Zoo
Spectators have screamed in horror as a crocodile at a zoo on the New South Wales south coast attacked its handler and dragged him into the water during a feeding show.
The 31-year-old handler at Shoalhaven Zoo was using a piece of meat to feed the 3.7 metre saltwater crocodile called John out of the enclosures pond when it lashed out, bit his hand, and pulled him into the water.
The handler was released by the crocodile after he landed on top of it.
He was then taken to Shoalhaven Hospital in a stable condition.
The owner of the zoo in Nowra, Nicholas Schilko, said around 60 people were watching the show at the time.
"There was a lot of fearful sort of screams and cries and a lot of relief when he got out," he said.
Mr Schilko said the injured handler had been working with crocodiles for more than a decade and fed John daily.
"It's an attack and that is serious, but thankfully the injuries aren't life threatening, which it certainly had the potential to be," he said.
"He's more disappointed with himself that it happened."
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