England cricket great Ian Botham had a close call with crocodiles and bull sharks during a fishing trip in northern Australia but was dramatically pulled to safety by former Ashes rival Merv Hughes.
The 68-year-old Botham, who is widely regarded as one of England's greatest cricketers, was on a boat with Hughes and others on the Moyle River when he found himself in danger. "My catch of the day was the barra (fish), while I was nearly catch of the day for all the crocs and bull sharks," Botham wrote on Instagram alongside a photo of a large fish. "Thanks boys for getting me out."
Despite the terrifying moment, Botham emerged from the incident with only heavy bruising. Speaking about the scare in an interview with *The Herald Sun*, Botham joked: "At the end of the day, Crocodile Beefy survived."
"I was out of the water quicker than I went in it. Quite a few sets of eyes were having a peek at me. Luckily, I had no time to think about what was in the water. The guys were brilliant; it was just one of those accidents. It was all very quick, and I'm OK now."
Botham, known for his swashbuckling style as an all-rounder, was a fixture of the England cricket team throughout the 1980s and 90s. He scored 5,200 Test runs and took 383 wickets over the course of his career, retiring from Test cricket in 1992.
Botham and Hughes, who had fierce competition on the field during their Ashes battles, have remained close friends. The Australian fast bowler was quick to assist Botham during the incident, ensuring the England legend's safe return to the boat.
While Botham escaped unharmed, his adventure serves as a reminder of the dangers lurking in Australia's wild waters. The pair's quick thinking and teamwork ensured that "Crocodile Beefy" lived to tell the tale.
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