Aussie tourists warned after swimmers spotted in 'crazy' act at popular spot
For years, people have been flocking to the Mangrove Boardwalk near Darwin to enjoy the lush scenery and hopefully catch sight of a native animal or two. However, persistent rainfall has left the area flooded, with water now "the same level as the railing", a recent visitor told Yahoo News.
This has enticed some to pull out their snorkel gear and even blow up inflatables to swim in the area, despite it being a well-known habitat for crocodiles and the world's most venomous jellyfish.
Online, locals called the swimmers out for being "crazy" and said Darwin "is pretty much crocodile city".
"Please just keep in mind that you are putting yourself in a lot of danger by being anywhere near potentially croc infested water, let alone swimming on a flooded bridge," one said.
Yahoo News reached out to visitors who had recently taken the plunge, however both declined to comment.
Northern Territory's Department of Tourism and Hospitality (DTH) told Yahoo News all visitors are urged to be croc-wise, with only designated swimming areas safe for swimmers in the state.
"Any body of water in the Top End may contain large and potentially dangerous crocodiles. How you behave around crocodile habitats is your responsibility," a DTH spokesperson told Yahoo, confirming that approximately 300 crocodiles are removed from the area every year for public safety.
"People are reminded to only swim in designated swimming areas," the spokesperson said. The City of Darwin council echoed a similar sentiment, urging people to stay out of the water.
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Box jellyfish, which can kill swimmers within minutes if badly stung, are known to reside in the area too. There have been 14 confirmed box jellyfish deaths since 1975, according to the state government, and are prevalent between October and June. Snakes were also recently spotted in the water near the Mangroves Boardwalk.
While the boardwalk is currently closed due to maintenance, it isn't fenced off by authorities. Visitors are warned to simply steer clear.
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