An unwitting South African crocodile handler nearly lost his genitals after a massive 15-foot beast bit him between the legs after he poked it with a stick in its enclosure as a crowd of tourists looked on.
Horrifying video shows the experienced reptile expert shrieking as the massive predator latched onto him just below his waist — inches from his manhood. It left a nasty wound, but fatefully, his genitals were safe.
The beast was reportedly a Nile Crocodile, one of the largest reptiles in the world with an incredibly powerful bite. When the handler poked it with a stick, it whipped its head around and latched onto his leg as bystanders screamed and the man himself yelled, "Help!"
The terrifying moment reportedly played out, according to the Daily Mail, as the handler was giving a demonstration to onlookers at the Crocodile Creek theme park in Ballito in KwaZulu-Natal, a coastal province just north of Durban.
Footage shows a second, much smaller crocodile racing to join the attack after the first latched on to him as tourists began to scream for help. After the beast pinned him down, the handler was somehow able to stand, and the giant reptile released him, allowing him to run to safety.
The handler was taken to Victoria Hospital for stitches, it was reported, as the severity of his injury remains unclear. A crocodile expert told MailOnline that the croc had simply been giving the man a warning, stating: "If he had wanted to kill him, then trust me, it could easily have."
A spokesperson for Crocodile Creek told MailOnline: "While I am happy the employee managed to escape and is currently stable, we are concerned about the violation of protocols at the time." They stated that someone else should have been in the enclosure with the handler as he gave the display so that if something went awry, as it did, they could jump in to help at a moment's notice.
Nile Crocodiles are massive beasts and can grow to be up to 5 metres long (over 16 feet), according to UK-based zoo Crocodiles of the World. They're native to Africa and can weigh up to 600kg (1,300 lbs) or more and travel as quickly as 32km/h (20 mph).
