How to Escape a Crocodile's Jaws: The Eye-Poking Trick

If you ever find yourself in the nightmare scenario of being caught in a crocodile's jaws, wildlife experts have surprisingly simple advice: go for the eyes. Push your thumbs into the predator's eyeballs with as much force as you can muster, and the crocodile will release you almost instantly.

It sounds like something out of an action movie, but this technique is backed by survival specialists and real-world cases. The reason it works comes down to biology and instinct.

Why Eyes Are the Crocodile's Achilles Heel

Crocodiles are walking tanks. Their skin is reinforced with osteoderms—bony deposits that create natural armor plating. Their skulls are solid masses of bone designed to withstand tremendous force. Their bite can exert over 3,700 pounds per square inch of pressure. But their eyes? Completely vulnerable.

Unlike the rest of their heavily fortified bodies, a crocodile's eyes have no protective covering. They're soft, sensitive, and absolutely critical to the animal's survival. When threatened with eye damage, a crocodile's survival instinct overrides its predatory drive. It will release whatever it's holding to protect its vision.

Real Survivors Who Used This Tactic

This isn't just theoretical advice. In Queensland, Australia, a man survived a crocodile attack by jamming his fingers into the predator's eyes. The crocodile immediately released him and retreated. Another survivor, Stephen Moreen, escaped a similar attack in 2014 using the same technique—the moment he poked the crocodile's eye, it let go and swam away.

Bear Grylls, the survival expert, recommends targeting the eyes as the primary defense if a crocodile tries to drag you into water. Other wildlife specialists echo this advice, noting that "poking the eyes is the only possible way you can fight back" against an animal that's otherwise nearly indestructible.

Alternative Targets (If You Can't Reach the Eyes)

If you can't reach the eyes, survival experts suggest these backup targets:

• Nostrils: Sensitive and unprotected, though less effective than the eyes
• Palatal valve: The flap of tissue at the back of the throat that prevents drowning—pushing it down can cause the crocodile to gag
• Ears: Another sensitive spot, though harder to reach during an attack

The key is to be aggressive and relentless. A crocodile's death roll and jaw strength are designed to incapacitate prey quickly, so your window to fight back is brief.

Prevention Is Still the Best Strategy

Of course, the best way to survive a crocodile attack is to avoid one entirely. Stay away from crocodile habitats at dawn and dusk when they're most active. Never swim in waters where crocodiles are known to live. And if you see one, back away slowly—don't run, which can trigger a chase response.

But if prevention fails and you find yourself in those powerful jaws, remember: the eyes are your target. It's brutal, it's terrifying, but it might just save your life.