Crocodile attacks Australian golfer

An Australian golfer playing at a tourist resort owned by controversial politician Clive Palmer has been attacked by an crocodile.

Police said on Tuesday that the man in his 70s was attacked by the 1.2-meter saltwater crocodile on Monday at the Queensland resort and was taken to a local hospital suffering puncture wounds to his leg.

Police senior sergeant James Coate told Australian Broadcasting Corp (ABC) the crocodile attacked the player by surprise.

"He landed his ball near the water and as he's done that he disturbed a ... crocodile," Coate said.

"When he went up to the crocodile, and it's bitten him."

Crocodiles are a protected species under Australian law. Because of the hunting ban, there numbers have significantly increased.

The resort's owner, mining magnate and federal politician Clive Palmer was involved in controversy last year when he called Chinese "mongrels and bastards" during a dispute with his Chinese business partners.

The comments caused major backlash within the Chinese community in Australia, and Palmer later made a formal apology to the Chinese embassy for his remarks.

On Tuesday, Palmer wished the golfer a speedy recovery and joked about taking crocodile off the menu.

"Crocodile has been removed from all menus at Palmer properties following today's incident," Palmer joked on Twitter. Endi