Alicia Sorahan. (A brave Lady.)

For my own personal safety when I began this series, the rule was,

no friends or relatives would be included, imagine the furor if I included

one but not all, there was in fact a slight conflict with one of my sons who

shall remain nameless, (but his name begins with Marcus.)

But for this post the rule has been suspended.

Alicia Sorahan (alias “the crocodile granny”)

Born in 1944 in Brisbane

Alicia was the 60 year old, slim built, trim little blonde lady, with the courage
of ten men, who, without a thought for her own safety, jumped on to the back
of a 4.2 metre long crocodile which was dragging a family friend off to a
certain death but for her intervention.

The crocodile, somewhat put out by this action, let go his grip on his chosen
victim, threw back his head to dislodge Alicia and grabbed her by the arm with
a new meal in mind.

This story has a happy ending for all but the crocodile, Alicia’s son Jason shot
and killed it before it managed to satisfy its own killing instincts.

Husband, Bill’s comment, “That’s good Alicia, you hold him while I get the
axe” demonstrates their spirit and sense of humor, (this comment was made
weeks later by the way, not at the time.)

This all took place on a beautiful lonely beach on Bathurst Bay in far north
Queensland in October 2004

Alicia’s bravery received world wide coverage, including an interview with
Steve Irwin, Australia’s Crocodile Man, Steve praised the actions of the family
even though it left one of his favourite animals dead.

Alicia was also honored with the “Pride of Australia Award for Bravery.”

As for my breaking the rule, the Sorahan family, I am proud to say, are
personal friends of mine, but under exceptional circumstances such as these,
cannot be barred from my list because of this friendship.

We met in 1992, while fishing on the remote Keep River, (yes there were
crocodiles there,) and have been good friends ever since, were it not for my
marriage breakup, we may well have been with them on that fateful trip.