Woman pulled from crocodile's jaws

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PERTH, Australia, April 3 (UPI) -- A passenger and a fellow crew member on an Australian cruise ship united to pull a young woman from the jaws of a crocodile, friends of the victim say.

Tara Hawkes, 23, who works on the True North, escaped with puncture wounds in her leg, The West Australian reported. She was attacked by the 6-foot crocodile Sunday while swimming with passengers in a freshwater pool in Talbot Bay, a remote region on the northern coast of West Australia.

Colby Schoderboeck, a friend of Hawkes, said a member of the crew nicknamed "Big Al," immediately jumped into action, joined by one of the swimming guests.

"They got on the crocodile's back," she said. "They were ripping the jaws of the crocodile open to get her free."

The True North helicopter transported Hawkes to a hospital, where her wounds were treated. She planned to go to her family in Perth to recuperate.

Peter Carstairs of the Department of Environment and Conservation said saltwater crocodiles often make their way into freshwater pools, especially at times of unusually high tides. He said swimming is not recommended and people should keep away from the water.