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Aussie Pokes Croc's Eyes, Rescues Wife

Heroic hubby jumped on 8-foot beast's back and poked it in the eyes

By Rob Quinn, Newser Staff

Posted Apr 3, 2008 11:27 AM CDT

(Newser) – When an 8-foot-long croc grabbed his wife and pulled her into the water, an Australian man says he did what anyone would—jump on the beast's back and poke it in the eyes until it let go. The pair made it to shore safely, reports the AP, although the woman suffered puncture wounds from the croc's teeth.

The man was hailed as a hero after fighting off the attack in a remote northern Australia park, but shrugged off the praise. "When you need to save someone that you love, you just do it," he said. A ranger said the attack—the fourth close call with a croc this year—was the first in the park and crocodile traps would be laid.

[Images (3)]

[Videos (1)]

The attack yesterday was the fourth croc attack this year in the Northern Territory. (Getty Images)

An Australian man jumped on an 8-foot crocodile's back and poked its eyes to free his wife from its jaws. (Getty Images)

Park rangers said they would try and trap the saltwater crocodile that grabbed a woman by the leg and pulled her into the water. (Getty Images)

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Aussie Pokes Croc's Eyes, Rescues Wife