Prince Harry amazes onlookers as he rescues trapped 13ft crocodile on African conservation trip
The royal brought the injured croc into shore and helped remove a metal hook from the beast's mouth
PRINCE Harry turned Crocodile Dundee as he rescued a trapped 13ft thrashing beast on an African conservation trip.
These amazing pictures show the royal bringing the injured crocodile into shore, jumping out the way as it lashed out and helping to remove a metal hook from its mouth.
The dangerous operation happened while Harry, 31, was helping to relocate elephants under threat from poachers in one of Malawi's biggest national parks.
An onlooker said: "A crocodile had been caught in a trap and had a chain in its mouth and wrapped round its leg so Harry and the boys went looking to try and save it.
"It was a massive croc and really p***ed off as it was in pain.
"Harry got completely involved in the action despite it being very dangerous.
"The man has balls! The whole time you're thinking how you could get bitten as the croc was not tranquillised and he could seriously hurt you at any stage.
We were very impressed about how involved he was
"But Harry just got stuck in, helped tie it up and bring it into shore.
"Someone stuck an arm down the croc's throat to try to get the hook out but it wasn't possible so we sawed off the rest of the chain which the croc just swallowed.
"We then untied it, picked up his tail and he slid exhausted back to river.
“Harry was as hands on the whole time as he was with the black rhino.
"We were very impressed about how involved he was.
“He's an easy-going guy so it’s nice that he got involved on his own.
"He listened intently to the experts and learnt very quickly what needed to be done on the croc capture and then just got involved like everyone else without getting in anyone’s way or be warned of the dangers or getting scared.
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"He was one of us." Harry was camping in the Liwonde National Park as part of an African Parks Project to move 500 elephants.
Despite the nearby luxury £350-a night-Mvuu Safari Lodge , he camped under the stars, and was treated as "one of the lads".
He ate fry-ups and roast chicken around the camp fire with the helicopter pilots and vets, who were involved in moving up to 20 elephants a day at risk of poachers.
Park operations manager Lawrence Munro said: “Harry was very uncomplicated.
"He stipulated from the beginning that he wanted to live with the guys and eat with the guys & have no special treatment.
"He told me he doesn’t want to be called prince just call me harry. He is such a down to earth guy.
"He would come to the Mvuu bar every now & again & drink with the pilots.
With his cap on & a scruffy beard the guests didn’t recognise him. He just blended in." Every day Harry would help vets and guides, tranquilize and then move elephants weighing up to 6,000kg.
He is such a down to earth guy
A chopper would spot the elephants in the wild, the team would move in to dart and then lift the elephants onto flatbed trucks to move them north out of the Liwonde National Park.
Crocodiles are also poached there, as their gall bladders are used to make poison.
Helicopter pilot Harry Hensberg said: "We harpooned the croc with a barb that has a cable & rope attached to it and tied the rope to a 25 litre bucket.
"Then we let him go. The croc hasn't got stamina so he exhausted himself trying to dive down & get away.
"About half an hour later he gave up getting away & then we pulled him close to the boat and roped his jaws shut.
"Then towed him to the bank and then pulled him onto bank with the rope.
Skin is very tough so it doesn’t tear.
"Then Harry untied the rope around his jaw, his back legs were restrained and a pile was forced beaten his jaws to keep his mouth open."
And the experience seems to have made a lasting impression on the prince.
Munro said: "He talked of wanting to get involved more in conservation
"That’s where his heart is."