Fisherman said he won life-and-death battle with 15-foot crocodile by poking his fingers in its eyes

• A man fought off a crocodile in Queensland, Australia, by poking his fingers in its eyes.
• The nearly 15-foot-long crocodile attacked him while he was spearfishing.

A man who was attacked by a nearly 15-foot-long crocodile in Queensland, Australia, fought it off by sticking his fingers in his eyes.

The 44-year-old man was spearfishing at Archer Point near Cooktown when he was attacked by the reptile on Saturday, Australian outlet Nine News reported.

"It has bitten him three times and dragged him to the bottom," Valerie Noble of Queensland Ambulance Service told the outlet.

"He's managed to – according to him – stick his fingers in the crocodile's eyes multiple times and escape before swimming towards the shore."

The man suffered injuries to his head, abdomen, and legs and was airlifted to Cairns Hospital.

He is in a stable condition and is in good spirits, according to the Australian outlet.

"He's an extremely lucky man, not many people would live to tell a story like that," Noble said.

A Queensland Department of Environment and Science spokesman told news.com.au that the incident will be investigated by wildlife officers, who will seek to confirm if the reptile is still in the area.

"The information provided to DES suggests the man reportedly suffered serious injuries," he said.

"Archer Point is known as croc country. Remember, you are responsible for your own safety in croc country."