Tourist trapped on Australian island for two weeks after being stalked by monster crocodile

Man was prevented from leaving by the arrival of a 20ft-long crocodile that made its presence felt every time he attempted to to enter the water

Saltwater crocodile numbers in Australia have shot up since the species was protected by federal law in 1971 (Getty)

A New Zealand tourist had to be rescued from an island near Kalumburu in the far north of Western Australia after being trapped for two weeks by a six-metre (20-foot) crocodile, according to reports in the Australian media.

The man, identified only as Ryan, was exploring the northern coast of Western Australia when he ran out of supplies on the remote Governor Island and attempted to paddle the four kilometres or so back to the mainland by kayak.

He was prevented from leaving by the arrival of the 20ft-long crocodile that made its presence felt every time he attempted to to enter the water.

The man was finally rescued when Kalumburu local Don Macleod spotted a light on the island during a supply run and found the stranded man.

"He said he was there for a fortnight and he came to the conclusion very quickly that he couldn't get off there without attracting this crocodile," Mr Macleod told ABC.

Mr Macleod told ABC that he saw the crocodile and believed it was around 20 foot long. It is believed Ryan had been dropped off by boat on the island and was unaware there were crocodiles in the area.

"He said he didn't know there were crocodiles around there. It makes you wonder, it's the sort of thing we are going to see more of," Mr Macleod said.

"A lot of people are naive about these things."