Wendy says, "Added to the Archive. This is a near miss of a foolish miss!"

(Australia, 2013) The East Alligator River in the Northern Territory is crossed at Cahill's Crossing. The Alligator River also has two boat ramps, one upstream and one downstrean of Cahill's Crossing. Several years ago a Euro tourist drove into the parking lot of the upstream launch area in her hired 4WD vehicle and, seeing a concrete ramp disappearing into the water, assumed that she had reached Cahill's Crossing. She gunned the engine and drove right into the water! As the vehicle began to sink into the crocodile-infested waters, she overcame her shock, extricated herself from the sinking 4WD, and managed to swim back to dry land before the reptiles had time to tie on their dinner bibs.
(Reference: Tales From The Tinny by Rob Smith.)

However one can hardly fault a tourist for mistaking the boat ramp for a crossing, as the river is subject to tidal flooding and the rocky causeway often resembles a boat ramp! The crossing is a treacherous snare for local vehicles, too. In December 2010, a family of three young boys traveling with their uncle and grandmother were stranded on the flooded causeway after Grandma insisted that they make a night-time crossing. "This is my country," she said. "We will be fine." Salties were gathered around the car by the time the family was pulled to safety by a rescue boat. Ironically, the uncle was driving with a suspended license. (Reference)

This story takes place on the East Alligator River in the Northern Territory during the wet season, usually tourists use Cahills Crossing as a means of crossing this particular river...

There are two boat ramps on the East Alligator River-one upstream and one downstream of Cahill's Crossing. A couple of years ago, a Euro tourist drove into the upstream car park and launch area in her hired 4WD. Seeing the concrete ramp disappearing into the water and assuming this was the crossing she had heard all about, she roared into the water. I'm not quite sure where she thought she was going to exit on the sheer bank opposite, but she never got an opportunity to find out as the vehicle promptly began disappearing into the depths of the river.

Luckily, she was able to overcome the initial shock, successfully extricate herself rom the sinking 4WD, and make it safely back to dry land without drowning.

This woman was very lucky indeed as the river was a raging torrent, as being the wet season, it had recieved quite a bit of water. Also, did I mention the Crocs? The East Alligator is full of them...

Submitted on 02/13/2013

Submitted by: James
Reference: Tales From The Tinny by Rob Smith, page 70-71

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Bruce said:
Definitely Keep: Honorable Mention
While I can certainly understand somebody who has never seen a river crossing like Cahill's Crossing mistaking a boat ramp for a crossing, driving blindly into it is extremely stupid. As James pointed out, there was no obvious ramp out of the river on the opposite side, so what on earth was this woman thinking. That's more than enough stupidity in my book for her to earn an HM. Thanks, James! There's a picture of the crossing in question on this wikipedia page: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alligator_Rivers

Candi said:
Definitely Keep: Honorable Mention
Oh good grief... Thanks James!

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