Kate Ritchie’s “Near-Death” Crocodile Encounter at Luxury Queensland Resort Leaves Fans in Stitches
Former Home and Away star Kate Ritchie has shared a hilarious — and slightly terrifying — “near-death experience” after spotting a crocodile lounging in the pool at her luxury Queensland resort over the weekend.
The radio host was staying at the Sheraton Mirage in Port Douglas, a tropical five-star getaway famed for its lagoon-style pools and lush surroundings. But what was meant to be a relaxing holiday quickly turned into a wild Aussie story that could only happen in Far North Queensland.
A Crocodile in Paradise
Kate took to Instagram to post a photo of herself in a sleek one-piece swimsuit, gazing over the resort deck — with a large red arrow pointing to the pool below.
In the next image, fans could clearly see it: a crocodile sunbaking at the bottom of the hotel’s lagoon pool.
“Kate’s ‘near-death’ encounter with a crocodile,” she captioned the post, tagging TikTok user Lisa Keller, who originally filmed the scene.
Keller, who was also staying at the resort, shared the footage on social media on Saturday, saying, “I don’t want to alarm anyone, but there is a crocodile in the Sheraton pool.”
Guests Stay Cool as the Croc Chills Out
In follow-up videos, Keller showed guests continuing to sunbathe calmly around the pool despite the uninvited visitor. Resort staff could be heard advising guests not to swim until wildlife experts arrived to relocate the reptile.
“They’re working out the safest way to move it,” one employee reportedly told Keller.
According to Queensland wildlife authorities, crocodiles occasionally wander into pools and waterways, especially after storms or flooding. Still, the sight of one in a luxury hotel pool left many social media users stunned — and amused.
Fans React: “Can’t Even Trust a Pool for a Swim!”
Kate’s post quickly went viral, with fans flooding the comments with jokes and disbelief.
“Can’t even trust a pool for a swim,” one follower wrote.
Another teased, “Haha, near-death? It’s bloody tiny!”
A third quipped, “The paparazzi are getting clever with their disguises!”
Others couldn’t help but find humor in the absurdity of the situation. “That’s a chlorine croc — they’re harmless!” one commenter joked. Another added, “He’s just on vacay too!”
Luxury Meets the Wild Side of Queensland
The Sheraton Mirage Port Douglas, known for rooms starting around $400 per night and luxury suites reaching $1,900, confirmed the crocodile sighting but declined to comment further.
While the incident ended safely, experts reminded locals and tourists that even small saltwater crocodiles can be dangerous. Encounters like this, while rare, aren’t unheard of in the tropical north — especially after heavy rains or cyclones.
As one amused fan summed it up: “Only in Australia could you pay for a five-star pool and end up swimming with a croc!”