A 48-year-old woman who became stranded in the Katherine River last night was pulled to safety by Katherine Police Officers, after reports of lurking crocodiles

Police were conducting patrols along Warburton Street when they were approached by a man who saw a woman swimming in the River shortly after 6:00pm.

Katherine Division Superintendent Brent Warren said Officers found the intoxicated woman stranded on the riverbank, which has a seven meter steep embankment.

“Officers tried to gain access to the woman in an attempt to pull her to safety by using a winch cable on the front of the patrol car.

“For reasons unknown, the woman got back into the water and swam out to a submerged log.

“Officers yelled out to the woman to get out of the water for her own safety due to the high crocodile activity in the area, but the woman did not comply.

“One of the Officers then dived into the river and pulled the woman out while his partner provided cover from crocodiles.

“Once on the riverbank, Officers observed a crocodile surface a short distance from where the woman had been in the water.

 “The woman was intoxicated at the time and had no regard for her own safety or the safety of the Officers who were trying to assist her. The Katherine River is well known for containing crocodiles and this woman was lucky as the incident could have ended in tragedy,” Superintendent Warren said.

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