West Australian based crocodile wrangler Owen Douglas has questioned claims from a Gold Coast man who said he pulled his own head free from the jaw of a saltwater croc.

The man, Marcus McGowan, said he was snorkelling on the Great Barrier Reef when he was attacked in May this year. In a statement released from his hospital bed, the 51-year-old said he was “able to lever [the crocodiles] jaws open just far enough…” to get his head out.

When crocodile expert Owen was asked by John Stanley about the story he said the claim was “a bit how ya going” due to the pressure created when a croc’s jaw pressure.