Watch FIFA World Cup 2026™

LIVE, FREE and EXCLUSIVE starting June 12 2026

NT men stuck in tree on crocodile-infested river for two days

Two men have been rescued after they were stranded in a tree for two days after their boat partially sank in crocodile-infested waters in remote Kakadu.

The two men spent two days in a tree.
The two men spent two days in a tree. Source: Careflight

Two men on a fishing trip in remote Kakadu have been rescued after spending two days stranded in a tree above crocodile-infested waters.

The men, aged in their 20s, were on a fishing trip on the South Alligator River when their boat partially sank on Monday, forcing them to climb up a tree.

They had left all of their safety equipment and other supplies in the boat and spent two days in temperatures above 35 degrees and humidity above 90 per cent.

When their boss realised they had not returned, he hired a charter helicopter to search for them, a statement from non-profit medical group CareFlight says.

News that makes sense

Your trusted source for staying up-to-date with the world around you. Get free daily news updates and analysis, straight to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

The men were able to reach a fire extinguisher in the boat, which they used to get the helicopter's attention.

CareFlight's Top End Rescue Helicopter was sent to the South Alligator boat ramp on Wednesday.

Rangers and friends brought the men to CareFlight's medical team, who treated them for extreme dehydration and severe insect bites.

They were flown to Royal Darwin Hospital in a stable condition.


1 min read

Published

Updated

Source: AAP


Share this with family and friends


Get SBS News straight to your inbox

Sign up now for daily news from Australia and around the world. You can also subscribe to Insight's weekly newsletter for in-depth features and first-person stories.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Follow SBS News

Download our apps

Listen to our podcasts

Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service

Stream now

Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world