Heart-stopping moments like a crocodile jumping aboard a fishing boat are rarely captured in a video. However, one couple did and it was frightening. 

Kathryn Dyball and her fiancé Cameron Bates were on their 15-foot (4.6-meter) long boat fishing in the Kimberley region of northwestern Australia when suddenly a saltwater crocodile following a fishing line jumped onto their vessel. They initially mistook the thing for a stick, but as it got nearer, they realized it was a crocodile.

Saltwater Crocodile Attempts to Climb Aboard A Fishing Boat After Failing to Catch Fish [WATCH]
(Photo : Pixabay/Angelo_Giordano)
Saltwater Crocodile Attempts to Climb Aboard A Fishing Boat After Failing to Catch Fish [WATCH]

Looks Straight to the Camera Before Lunging to the Boat

The adventure seekers shared the horrifying video on their TikTok account. In the clip, the crocodile is rapidly swimming and following the fishing line that the couple has been dragging through the lake. As they pulled the fishing line from the water, the crocodile attempted to catch it but to no avail.

 @tides_katsadventures CROCODILE TRIES TO JUMP INTO OUR BOAT Check out the full video on bit.ly/TIDESyoutube #saltwatercroc #animalsreact #animalsdoingthings #animalsoftiktok #animals #australianthings #australiacheck #australiatiktok #crocodile #croc #fyp #fishing #fishinglife #broome #thekimberley #ocean #wildlife #australianwildlife #australiananimals #aussie  #australia ♬ Oh No - Kreepa  

Following the unsuccessful attempt, the reptile paused before looking straight into the camera and suddenly leaped out of the water and jumped into the boat. It failed to enter the vessel but managed to hold onto the edge using its two forelimbs. 

 The couple was taken aback and the footage went shaky. After a few moments, the crocodile can be seen floating in the water again as the fishing boat moves away.

Dyball told ABC News that the experience was an "absolute shock." Even if the incident only took a few seconds, "it felt like time stood still," Dyball added.

She added that the near-death experience made her think to be more cautious and not complacent in the Northern Territory rivers. More so, animals should be respected to avoid disastrous encounters with them.

Aside from TikTok, the couple also uploaded on their YouTube channel called "TIDES - Kat and Cam's Kimberley Adventures" their full experience while fishing in the area where they encountered the crocodile. In the video, they can be seen spearfishing in picturesque waters off the Northern Territory coast.

ALSO READ: What To Do When Faced With A Croc? 6.5ft Saltwater Crocodile Seen in Popular Swimming Spot

Crocodile's Jumping Behavior

Crocodiles prefer to sit and wait for their prey before they lunge out of the water. Once they spot their unsuspecting victim, they will tip their head back and propel their entire body into the air to snap their prey.

In some cases, they leap out of the water, although not like dolphins, sharks, and other aquatic animals do. According to Crittasaurus, crocodiles could jump up to 5-6 feet when jumping in a vertical direction, but some reports claim that some could reach 8-10 feet high, especially in tourists spots.

Crocodiles get a running start from below the surface and use maximum momentum to propel themselves out of the water to pursue prey or just for personal enjoyment.

As Science Times previously reported, this jumping behavior is more common among younger crocodiles in the wild. Their ability to jump has been exploited in tourist attractions, including in the Northern Territory, where experts encourage wild crocodiles to leap at the side of the boat to entertain guests.

 RELATED ARTICLE: Massive Crocodile Jumps, Snatches Unsuspecting Flying Bat in Daintree River: How High Can These Reptiles Jump? [Watch]

Check out more news and information on Crocodiles in Science Times.