Man, 33, is savaged by a crocodile while snorkelling on the Great Barrier Reef

A man has been attacked by a crocodile while snorkelling in North Queensland.

The 33-year-old was savaged by the crocodile while swimming off Anchor Bay at Lizard Island off the Great Barrier Reef at about 4pm on Wednesday.

The man was treated by Royal Flying Doctors Service for head and neck injuries at the scene and was flown to Cairns Hospital in the evening. 

A spokesperson from Cairns Hospital told Daily Mail Australia the man is in a stable condition.

Officers from the Department of Environment and Science will head to the island to investigate the attack.

Wildlife officers will attempt to locate and remove the crocodile.

The man involved is believed to be a staff member working at the luxury Lizard Island Resort.

The villa is not open due to COVID-19 restrictions and won’t reopen to tourists until December.

Resort operators have offered wildlife officers the use of two of their vessels to assist with search efforts for the animal. 

Lizard Island is off the coast of Queensland on the Great Barrier Reef

The man was bitten over the head and neck when he was snorkelling in about 5 metres of water, about 50 metres offshore.  

Windswell Reef and Rainforest owner Brett Wright has spent two years running tours around Lizard Island.

He said people are aware there are crocodiles around the area but it was surprising to hear of an attack.    

‘There is a lot of water sports activity around that area and I’m surprised it has happened, but they are around,’ he told the Cairns Post. 

‘If a croc was going to come out at Anchor Bay it would probably be the first point of contact between a crocodile and a snorkeler.

‘My philosophy is the more remote places you have guests the more vigilant you have to be.’