A swimmer is lucky to be alive after a 6ft crocodile bit him and clamped its jaws around his head.

The unnamed man, 44, was attacked by the reptile while taking a dip in a lake near Cairns, in Queensland, Australia.

But despite having a narrow escape he insisted he would return there to swim again, a paramedic said.

He said he was drifting through the water at 12.45pm on Thursday when he felt a “sudden impact” clasp on the top of his head.

Using his hands, he managed to pry its jaws off his head, which snapped shut on his hand.

The man was left with “puncture marks on his head”.

He then…