Visitors to Ballito’s Willard beach were surprised to find themselves sharing the waves with a ‘body surfing’ baby crocodile early last Saturday evening.

Two Johannesburg holiday makers, Dean Japho and Grant van Winsen, rescued the reptile from its salty fate.

“They called us and asked if they could bring it here,” said Crocodile Creek founder Peter Watson.

“I did not want to put it with our general stock in case it is carrying any diseases, so for now it is in my bathtub.”

Watson said the crocodile was quite thin for its size, and that he would try to keep it alive and get it healthy, following which KZN Wildlife will decide what to do with it.

Up until now, the crocodile, aptly named ‘Willard’, has not been eating, likely because it is still suffering from shock and stress after being thrown around in the waves.

According to Watson, it may well continue refusing to eat and simply expire.

“It likely washed out of one of the estuaries, maybe the Tugela, and got carried by the current to Willard beach,” said Watson, noting that these crocodiles can only survive for a limited time in salt water.