A 60-year-old man on an Adelaide River cruise was attacked and bitten by a crocodile Monday afternoon, authorities said, resulting in heavy bleeding that saw him rushed to hospital in Palmerston for emergency surgery to his arm and hand.

St John Ambulance NT operations manager Craig Garraway told ABC Radio this morning that they received a report of the incident around 3:30pm alerting them to the attack off the Arnhem Highway.

“My understanding is a male there has been on a cruise of some sort … and somehow has ended up having his hand bitten by what appears to be a three- or four-metre crocodile,” Mr Garraway said.

He said they were not provided with details about the type of cruise the victim was on at the time of the attack in Adelaide River.

The Adelaide River is famous for its jumping croc tours although it remains unclear if the man was a guest of any of the cruise companies.

NT Police Senior Sergeant Richard Howie said the bite to the man’s arm resulted in “heavy bleeding” that was “controlled by bystanders using a pressure bandage”.

The extent of the man’s injuries was unclear as paramedics say he was bitten in the hand while police said he had bites to his arm.

Snr Sgt Howie told the ABC the bystanders brought the man to the Palmerston Hospital where he underwent surgery.

NT Health said the man is in a stable condition this morning.

Authorities will be conducting further investigation into the incident and will interview the man to get his account of what happened.

“Police are yet to speak to this male to determine the circumstances and the location and the nature of the injury,” Snr Sgt Howie said.

“We need to obtain some further information so we can pass it on to NT Parks and Wildlife so they can review the incident and can determine what action might be required.”

He said the recent croc attack is a reminder of the dangers in the Top End’s waterways.

“There is always a risk. We know our waterways do have plenty of crocodiles in them,” he said.

“Anyone out on the water should be really aware and obviously be safe when it comes to being in their territory.”