Mr Munro was airlifted to hospital in nearby Richards Bay, where he underwent operations to repair tendons in his right foot Photo: GETTY IMAGES

Lawrence Munro was on an evening stroll with wife Kerryn and their dogs when the pair stopped to rest on some rocks, dipping their toes into a shallow part of the White Umfolzi river on a game reserve 125 miles north of Durban.

Moments later, the Nile crocodile launched its assault.

Mr Munro, 33, said: “It was a matter of seconds. I grabbed hold of the rocks and started kicking the croc with my right foot. He let go and grabbed again, getting hold of both feet. I tried to get to my rifle, but I had been dragged closer to the water and couldn’t reach it. Kerryn grabbed under my arm and around my neck and started pulling. Eventually the croc let go.

“My two-way radio had come loose and fallen into the river during the struggle so we couldn’t call for help,” he told the Mercury newspaper.

After pulling her husband free, Mrs Munro ran to the Makhamisa Base Camp for help. Mr Munro was airlifted to hospital in nearby Richards Bay, where he underwent operations to repair tendons in his right foot.

Jeff Gaisford, spokesman for Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife, which runs the 240-acre Imfolozi Game Reserve, said Mrs Munro was still recovering from Friday’s ordeal.

“She’s five months pregnant and a small little thing, so she’s resting after it all. There’s no doubt Lawrence is very lucky – this crocodile would have eaten him, no doubt. A man is meat to a croc.

“He ended up being a bit of a sandwich with the croc dragging him from one end and Kerryn pulling him by the shoulders from the other. We estimate the croc was 3 metres (9.8 feet) long so it was quite big but in the end it gave up.”

Mr Muno added: “I am just glad Kerryn was with me and was able to help me get away from the croc. If she hadn’t been there, the ending would have been bad. I am also glad the croc took my feet and not hers, as she was sitting right next to me with her feet in the water.”

Mr Gaisford said there had been a recent spate of crocodile attacks across KwaZulu-Natal as the animals bulk up ahead of winter.

He added: “Lawrence was very lucky because crocodile are killers. They are past masters at camouflage and stalking so it’s not surprising he didn’t see it. But he’s not bitter about it and we expect him to be back at work once his feet have healed.”