Naked fugitive rescued from crocodile-infested waters in Australia after surviving on snails

'He was dehydrated and pretty weak ... we thought we had better get him in the boat’

Cam Faust said he and fellow recreational fisher Kev Joiner heard Luke Voskresensky, 40, call for help as they set crab traps from their dinghy in mangroves on the outskirts of Darwin (Cam Faust/Kev Joiner)

A naked fugitive who had been lost for four days and survived by eating snails was rescued from a “nest” he made in trees overhanging a crocodile-infested mangrove forest in Australia.

Two fishermen found the man – who was covered in mud, cuts and insect bites – sitting on a branch just a metre above the water on the outskirts of the northern city of Darwin.

Luke Voskresensky, 40, was on the run from police after being freed on bail after facing multiple charges including armed robbery and aggravated assault.

Recreational fishers Cam Faust and Kev Joiner found the man after hearing cries for help as they set crab traps from their dinghy.

“He had a nest made up in the tree, and he was only laying a metre above the water and there were crocs in the water so he has done well to survive,” Mr Faust said.

”Once we had seen how bad he was and how many cuts he had all over him and he was dehydrated and pretty weak ... we thought we had better get him in the boat,“ Mr Joiner said.

”We thought he just must have had a big night after New Year's and got lost and done himself a mischief in the bush.”

An ambulance was waiting at a boat ramp in Darwin when they arrived.

Mr Voskresensky was taken to a hospital in the city, where he was placed under police guard.

Police said he had been free on bail after being charged with armed robbery, multiple aggravated assaults, deprivation of liberty and stealing.

But he had cut off his electronic monitoring device last week and attempted to evade police.

Because he was in hospital, Mr Voskresensky was excused from attending court to face new charges of breaching bail and aggravated assault, court official Xavier La Canna said.

He will next appear in court on 9 February.

Additional reporting by AP