The footage, credited to Channel 9, shows Murwillumbah teenager Westen Frankland underwater at Indarri Falls when the crocodile snapped at his arm. 

Westen then climbs into a canoe screaming as voices try to calm him by saying “it’s just a freshie” and “you need to stay calm, OK?” 

He later told the news station: “I just remember the mouth and all its teeth just coming at me. 

“It was more the shock than the pain. 

“I’m pretty scared of crocs now.” 

The Royal Flying Doctor Service confirmed it flew Westen from Lawn Hill to the Mount Isa Hospital on Saturday, May 2, and that he had minor injuries. 

Adels Grove manager Michelle Low Mow said a freshwater crocodile attack in the area was a “rare occasion”. 

“They usually move into other parts of the gorge away from people once tourism starts,” Mrs Low Mow said.  

“The croc took up residence under the falls and then felt threatened as he was then cornered.” 

The Indarri falls was closed to swimming until Cairns-based wildlife rangers could remove the crocodile. 

“The falls are now open and all is well,” she said. 

It was reported to the Department of Environment and Heritage Protection the morning it happened. 

A department spokesperson said there was signage at the waterfall to warn visitors of freshwater crocodiles but that an attack was “unusual”. 

“Freshwater crocodiles are docile creatures whose diet consists of small animals such as insects, fish, frogs, lizards, turtles and birds. 

“Being timid animals they would usually swim away from any human activity.”

Freshwater crocodiles were known to nip or bite when threatened like many other animals, the spokesperson said.