A video showing a massive crocodile getting stuck under a ute at a well-known river crossing in the Northern Territory has gone viral, amassing nearly four million views on TikTok since being posted by user Matteo Mastratisi on Monday.
The dramatic footage was captured at Cahills Crossing in Kakadu National Park, a notorious spot along the East Alligator River that’s teeming with crocodiles. The video shows a vehicle unknowingly driving over a crocodile submerged in the water.
Mastratisi, who was filming to show a friend living in the remote community of Gunbalanya across the river, told ABC News Breakfast that the driver had no clue a crocodile was underneath the vehicle. “You couldn’t see it under the water,” he said. “You’d never want to stop in the middle of a crossing like that — especially one full of crocs.”
He added that once it was safe, the driver pulled over, still unaware of what had just happened. Mastratisi, who has worked in Arnhem Land for over a decade, said he’d never seen anything like it. “Definitely a once-in-a-lifetime video.”
Crocodile expert Professor Grahame Webb weighed in, saying he doubted the reptile suffered any serious injury. “They’re built for survival — tough, well-armoured, and highly resistant to infection,” he explained. “It’s unlikely the croc was badly hurt.”
The video has sparked both fascination and concern online, highlighting the wild and unpredictable nature of Australia’s most dangerous river crossings.
