Former England cricket icon Ian Botham recently opened up about a terrifying close call he experienced in Australia. During a fishing trip with an old friend, what started as a leisurely outing quickly turned dangerous, nearly ending in disaster. Botham shared the details of the incident, recounting how he narrowly escaped a life-threatening situation.
Ian Botham, currently in Australia, recently went on a fishing trip with his friend Merv Hughes. While trying to move between boats, Botham lost his balance and slipped into the murky waters of Moyah River—a habitat known for crocodiles and blue sharks.
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The fall left Botham with severe bruising, and he had a close call with a lurking saltwater crocodile. Thankfully, his friend acted quickly, pulling the England legend out before any crocodile posed a threat. Although Botham escaped unscathed, he did suffer bruises.
Recounting his close brush with danger, Ian Botham expressed relief that he didn't have a moment to think about what might be in the water. He commended his friend Merv Hughes and the rescue team for their quick and effective response, saying, "It all happened so fast, but I’m fine now."
As quoted by the Express, Ian Botham said, "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 peep at me. Luckily I had no time to think about what was in the water."
At 68, Ian Botham is considered one of the greatest cricketers in England's history. Over the course of 102 Test matches, he scored 5,200 runs with 14 centuries and 22 half-centuries. In 116 One Day Internationals, he accumulated 2,113 runs, averaging 23.21. Botham registered 9 half-centuries in One Day Internationals. His last appearance for England came on August 24, 1992, against Pakistan.