A zoo keeper blames himself for a near-death experience with a crocodile which ended with his thumb being ripped off - although he does admit that he has very scant memories of the traumatic event. The owner of the reptile park, Ian Jenkins, was grabbed by a crocodile whilst performing in front of a large crowd,  at Snakes Downunder Reptile Park and Zoo near Childers, south of Bundaberg,far north Queensland . In extremely distressing scenes, the 58-year-old was dragged into the pond at which point the four-metre croc ‘Macca’ started a death roll. Thanks to the quick thinking of his fellow worker, Louise Smith, Jenkins escaped with his life.
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Victim Ian Jenkins is the owner of the Snakes Downunder Reptile Park Zoo
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His left thumb was bitten off as he tried to get croc's attention with a chicken
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He now blames himself and is annoyed with himself for his crucial mistakes
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Colleague Louise Smith who saved his life says she was 'just doing her job'
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She put her life on the line, wacking the crocodile on the head until he let go
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A terrified spectator shares her account of the distressing scenes
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Jenkins has already undergone several hours of surgery to reconstruct his mangled hand
The hero was Ms Smith, insists she was just doing her job when she distracted @placeholder to free Jenkins