Man punches crocodile that almost ate him before snatching his dog

A man narrowly escaped being killed when he took on a crocodile after it attacked his beloved dog.

There's no love greater than a human's devotion for their dog. And yes, I said dog, not pet, because dogs are far superior.

I'm not joking when I say I would kill for my dog, although maybe I would have slight doubts when faced with a whopping big crocodile - sorry Smudge.

On Wednesday (22 February) at around 5:30pm, 37-year-old tourist Alister MacPhee decided to go for a dip with his dog in Bloomfield River, located in the far north of Queensland, Cairns.

While making his way into the water, a crocodile launched at MacPhee, sinking its teeth into his leg.

Fortunately the large reptile let him go, but it then bared its jaws on MacPhee's poor Rottweiler.

robertharding/ Alamy Stock Photo

Despite MacPhee's best efforts to punch the crocodile to force it to release his dog, the crocodile slipped away.

The 37-year-old was left bleeding on the side of the shore before luckily being picked up by a ranger and airlifted to Cairns hospital.

However, MacPhee's dog was not found and remains missing.

Skye Ashworth, an environmental health and animal management officer, told 9News: "The owner was punching the back of the crocodile in order to save his dog. But due to the size and how strong the crocodile is he wasn't able to save his dog."

7NEWS Australia/ YouTube

As a result of the crocodile biting MacPhee and now having a 'taste for human blood' and subsequently posing a 'future risk' to other humans, the Department of Environment and Science (DES) is sending wildlife officers to locate and remove the animal from the river.

In light of the incident, the Queensland Government reflected: "It's a timely reminder for people to be Crocwise in croc country.

"And not to be complacent with their own safety or the safety of their family or pets when they are in or near the water."

7NEWS Australia/ YouTube

While his dog remains missing - unlikely to have made it through the attack - MacPhee is reported as now being in a stable condition, however he remains in hospital.

MacPhee is 'very, very sad' despite how 'very lucky' he is to be alive given the loss of his beloved pet and 'best mate', according to Peter Scott, the major of Cooktown.

Mayor Scott said: "It's awfully tragic that he's lost a dog who I think was there with him and may have been trying to protect him too."

If you have experienced a bereavement and would like to speak with someone in confidence, contact Cruse Bereavement Care via their national helpline on 0808 808 1677