RISKY CONDUCT: Young boys play in crocodiles’ front yard

CROC COUNTRY

David Gardiner

Journalist

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“Are your kids being croc wise in croc country?” a social media user asks parents. Picture: Anonymous/Facebook

Parents of a group of unidentified kids at Newell Beach have been taken to task on social media by local residents and others, for apparently not watching while the youngsters took risks in waters where crocodiles are frequently seen.

The boys were captured on camera playing in water next to a sand spit near the Newell Beach boat ramp at the mouth of the Mossman River, an area known to be inhabited by large crocs.

A man was bitten by a crocodile in April this year a few hundred metres to the north of the boat ramp area while sleeping on Newell Beach, as reported by Newsport at the time.

Locals agree the area, especially in or close to the water, is high risk.

“Are your kids being croc wise in croc country?” the anonymous post questioned. 

“This group of 5 young unsupervised boys were playing in the water at the river mouth on the newell beach side for around an hr, we were fishing on the Cooya beach side,” the post went on to say.

“We kept a close eye them & of course kids let their guard down. My partner who was with me has worked for many yrs in the croc industry so this is not to have a go at kids being kids, just knowledge & experience that it’s risky behaviour the parents might want to know about.”

Other Facebook users chimed in with answers and comments.

“Well if you good to take a photo how about have a friendly chat maybe to them.”

“Kids were on opposite side of the very croc infested river”.

To that, the anonymous poster replied, “nailed it, this was a zoomed in image from the other side of the river…”

“Well done for keepin an eye on them to ensure safety”.

“Not sure what he could have done if a croc came in fast for a feed though."

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