A daring reptile park worker has dived into a monster crocodile's pool to retrieve a lawnmower just hours after the animal tried to attack staff at a Gosford wildlife park.
Australian Reptile Park curator Tim Faulkner was one of two workers who crept into the 5m croc's enclosure to grab the mower as the animal was lured away with kangaroo meat.
"I didn't mind jumping in the water, once the croc has fixed on a bit of food," he told AAP.
"Billy distracted him with 'roo meat and I just dove in and grabbed the mower."
Animal handlers at the park just north of Sydney were mowing the lawn at 8am (AEDT) this morning when the monster crocodile charged at them, grabbing the mower's wheel with its jaws.
He then dragged the mower into the park's pool with the engine still running.
The park's marketing manager Libby Bain told ninemsn staff were "flat out" getting the park ready this morning and used two mowers rather than one.
"He's very used to one mower but we think the second one is what's triggered him," Bain said.
Elvis, who has been described by park staff as the "unfriendliest crocodile you would ever want to meet", lost two teeth in the process.
Mr Faulkner said it probably wouldn't be the last time the 50-year-old croc made a nuisance of himself.
"He's just won a big game, so when we get in there to feed him later in the day he's going to be different crocodile, he's going to be the king," he told AAP.
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