Two men have been rescued after spending five horrific days stranded in remote crocodile-infested country after their ute became bogged.
Charlie Williams, 19, and Beau Bryce-Maurice, 37, were on a fishing trip on the Dampier Peninsula north of Broome when they got stuck down a boggy track near Hidden Creek.
The pair, and their dog, stayed with their Holden Colorado from Friday until they were rescued on Tuesday afternoon. A high tide meant they needed to sit on the vehicle’s roof every 12 hours to keep safe as crocodiles circled.
Mr Williams told the West Australian newspaper that the intense heat, lack of food and water and looming predators made it a stressful experience.
“We were getting wet every day, our skin was burnt and peeling, it was hot and stressful,” he said. “We talked to each other to stay positive and saying, ‘Only one more day, they’ll find us tomorrow’, keeping our hopes up.”
Mr Williams’ father Edward had raised the alarm when the men had not returned and police used two police cars, a forward command post and diverted aircraft for the search.
A passenger in an oil rig helicopter eventually spotted flashes of light from below, leading police to the two men. Police in four-wheel-drive vehicles reached the pair and friends helped retrieve the bogged ute.
Broome police Sgt Grant Winslow told the West Australian the ute was bogged about 100m from mangroves where crocodiles lurked.
He said the incident was a reminder for people to be well-equipped and prepared when they travelled into remote areas.
“Take an EPIRB, a satellite phone if you have one, even flares,” he said. “Let someone know where you are going and when you are expected to return.”
