Wildlife documentary star Rob Bredl could lose part of his hand after an attack from a 4.5-metre crocodile at his family's wildlife park on Thursday.
The 66-year-old "Barefoot Bushman" was feeding the full-grown reptile at Bredl's Wild Farm in north Queensland just after midday when it turned on him, badly slashing his left hand and leaving bite marks in his left leg.
![Crocodile handler Rob Bredl of Bredl's Wild Farm.](/web/20160923204505im_/http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/content/dam/images/g/r/m/8/0/v/image.related.articleLeadwide.620x349.grm11t.png/1474580936173.jpg)
"He said it happened on land," QAS advanced care paramedic Heather Shields said.
"It was attempting to drag him to the water but he's got away before he was submerged at all."
![The 66-year-old 'Barefoot Bushman' was feeding a full-grown reptile when it slashed his left hand and leaving bite marks ...](/web/20160923204505im_/http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/content/dam/images/g/r/m/8/0/w/image.related.articleLeadNarrow.300x0.grm11t.png/1474580936173.jpg)
Ms Shields said tourists and bystanders had helped control haemorrhaging and the "extremely lucky" man was stable when ambulances arrived.
"They'd done an excellent job at looking after him prior to us getting there," she said.
"We've managed his pain for him, done a little bit more first aid on him and some splinting."
The documentary filmmaker was airlifted to Mackay Base Hospital with a severe hand injury, an RACQ CQ Rescue spokeswoman said.
"From what crew had said, there is the possibility he may lose some fingers," she said.
Despite this, a spokeswoman for Bredl's Wild Farm said the reptile specialist was in "good spirits" when he left.
"When they took him off he was smiling," she said.
"It is the first time he has been bitten. He has worked with them all his life."
The 175 acre family property accepts up to 32 people each day for guided walks tours to meet a variety of wildlife that call the area home, including crocodiles.