2 Sep 2013

Giant crocodile stalks NZ tourist in WA

10:03 pm on 2 September 2013

A New Zealand kayaker has been rescued from a tiny island off Western Australia's far northern coast, where he says he was stalked by an enormous crocodile for two weeks.

The man was stuck on Governor Island for a fortnight too scared to leave.

Kalumburu resident Don MacLeod says he spotted a light on Governor Island, which led him to chance upon the tourist on Saturday.

It is understood the man had been dropped off by a boat to explore the area in his kayak with some water and food, the ABC reports.

Mr MacLeod says the tourist could not leave the island for a fortnight because he feared being eaten by the crocodile.

He told the ABC he believes the animal is about 6m long.

"That crocodile I've seen him several times actually going by quite fast," Mr MacLeod said.

"One day he just happened to surface along side me as I was going past and my boat's 20 foot long so he was well up towards the 20 foot mark. "Very, very large crocodile, one of the biggest that I know of around here.

"And [it] started following him around so he made it back to the island and pulled his kayak up as far as he could get it and headed cross country back to his camp. So he was reduced then to trying to conserve his water and signal [for help]."

Just 24 hours after taking the New Zealand tourist to safety, Mr MacLeod helped another man whose boat has been attacked by a crocodile.

"He went up to get some water for his yacht to continue his journey in his little tender, rode it up and on the way back a croc grabbed it and shook it and punched some large holes in it so he managed to get back here and we pulled it up and patched it up with some putty."

Overseas media reports have referred to the New Zealander only as Ryan.