Croc shock for children at local swimming pool

A GROUP of children, ready for their early morning swim class in Darwin, Australia, got a nasty fright when a 1.6m crocodile got there first.

“They turned the lights on, noticed a dark shape in the corner which scuttled over the lawn and into the water,” said a staffer at Nightcliff Pool, Louise Salathiel.

“There were a few screams and then some cheering, they’re just kids.”

The male saltie was in the pool area when swimming club members arrived.

“We were over at the end of the pool and my friend was like, ‘What is that?’ and we turned around and this crocodile was just running and we started screaming and ran away,” said schoolgirl, Lauren Burrow.

The crocodile stayed under water for the next two hours until parks and wildlife rangers lifted it out, and took it to its new home at the Darwin Crocodile Farm at Noonamah.

It is thought the reptile may have been escaping rough seas and climbed up a nearby cliff in search of calmer waters.

“Crocodiles might sometimes be experiencing unfavourable weather conditions depending on where they might be, so they seek refuge if or when this becomes necessary,” said senior wildlife officer, Tommy Nichols.