OK, most people at one time or another have had a wee too much to drink. But how drunk does have someone have to be to decide that a 16-foot-long saltwater crocodile is a horse? Who won the match? Taking bets? Fatso came in first and the man escaped with his life.
Fatso, who resides at the Broome Crocodile Park in Western Australia, didn’t like being ridden. He was gentle though and after giving the man a large bite on the leg, Fatso miraculously let him go. This was one lucky tourist from eastern Australia since crocodiles rarely let go. They’re the world’s largest reptile and can grow to be as large as 23 feet.
The wanna-be croc rider had been ejected from a nearby pub for being too drunk. The man, whose name has yet to be released, decided to scale a barbed wire fence in the park to get a closer look at the reptile and give him a pat. Fatso’s pen is shared with two female crocodiles. Perhaps Fatso was protecting them from this human predator?
The 36-year-old man suffered “some very nasty lacerations” to his right leg. Luckily, he was able to climb back out of the enclosure and seek medical help at Broome Hospital, where his leg was stitched up big time.
Tourists have been known to do some dumb things. But this must take the cake. Can you add other “not-to-be-believed stories? I’m still shaking my head over this one.
Karen Fawcett is president of Bonjour Paris
Karen Fawcett loves to travel anywhere. Karen was a founder & president BonjourParis.com while living in Paris for more than 25 years. She has traveled across Europe and the rest of the world. She is now based in Washington, DC.
