Meerensee father and son wrestle croc

A COLD-BLOODED perpetrator over eight feet, with razor sharp teeth and bulging muscles, initially wrestled down two big men before they subdued him with brute force and duct tape in an audacious citizen’s arrest on Sunday night.

Father and son Corrie and Joshua Pretorius of Northern Region Protection Services (NRPS) were on crime prevention patrol in Meerensee, when a guest lodge raised alarm about a crocodile lurking in their parking area.

The daring duo moved in with military precision, ready to counter any sudden attack.

The target was described as dangerous and aggressive.

Joshua made the first move when he leaped onto the intruder’s scaly back, clinging for dear life, while Corrie, duct tape clenched between teeth, also dived into the fight, risking life and limb.

Onlookers say the Pretorius duo disappeared in a cloud of dust, but when the earth settled, the perp was shedding crocodile tears through clenched jaws.

He was then taken for mug shot and prints.

The drama unfolded on the NRPS social media group and Corrie was immediately dubbed ‘Crocodile Dundee’.

The crime captains said they intended transporting the mischief maker to a secure holding facility near Mposa, rigged to detain his sort.

However, their bakkie had no canopy and the lodge was unwilling to provide the gate-crashing guest with bed and breakfast.

The monster was released.

Watching his captors through narrow eyes and a mocking grin, the scaly creature slid back into the muddy waters at the far end of the pool where it came from, seemingly thick-skinned over the commotion.

Meanwhile, Corrie says, ‘The drought is driving out the crocodiles from their usual habitat, because they have very little food.

‘We have also spotted two in the lake behind the LAC centre in Meerensee.’