SYDNEY, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- A well-known film-maker and reptile specialist Robert Harold Bredl has been attacked by a 4.5 metre crocodile during a feeding demonstration at a wild life farm owned by him in Queensland, Australia.
Bredl also known as "The Barefoot Bushman" and for his famous crocodile documentary series worldwide was reportedly grabbed by a 4.5m-long male crocodile in front of tourists at his wild life farm in Bloomsbury, north of Mackay, just after noon, Nine News reported on Thursday.
The 66-year-old man managed to break free from the reptile's jaws as the reptile tried to drag him into the water.
He was later flown via helicopter to Mackay Base Hospital and is currently reported to be in a serious but stable condition.
It is understood that Bredl was undergoing surgery and is likely to lose a part of his hand.
Queensland Ambulance advanced care paramedic Heather Shields said that Bredl was "extremely lucky" to have survived the attack.
"He said it happened on land, it was attempting to drag him into the water but he's got away before he was submerged," she said.
Koorana Crocodile Farm owner John Lever said Bredl had worked with crocodiles all his life.
"He's one of the last persons I'd expect to be nailed by a crocodile, he's very experienced," Lever said.
"Our hearts go out to him."
"It's the last thing you want to happen to anyone," he said.
Lever said it was the time of year where crocodiles spike up because they become sexually active and territorial.
This is not the first time a crocodile has attacked someone in Bredl's farm.
In 1997, Bredl niece Karla suffered a broken pelvis and thigh bone when she was attacked by a four-metre saltwater crocodile at the Barefoot Bushman's Wildlife Park in Cannonvale.
Born in South Australia to Austrian migrant parents, Bredl's documentaries have been shown on TV stations worldwide in more than 45 countries and has been translated into 36 languages.
He is best known for his documentary called "Kissing Crocodiles" which was aired in over 100 countries.
