From red carpet to a wild adventure: Kate Ritchie trapped among tourists as croc suddenly appears!

You'd expect luxury amenities when paying up to $1,900 a night for a resort room. Still, few guests anticipate sharing the pool with Australia's most feared predator.

That's precisely what happened to radio personality Kate Ritchie during her weekend getaway at Port Douglas's prestigious Sheraton Mirage resort.

The former Home and Away star turned the surprise encounter into social media gold, posting a cheeky photo of herself in a swimsuit with a large red arrow pointing to the pool, alongside a small saltwater crocodile.

'I don't want to alarm anyone but there is a crocodile in the Sheraton pool,' guest Lisa Keller said in a video uploaded on social media.

Kate's followers were quick to see the humour.

'Can't even trust a pool for a swim,' one quipped.

'The paparazzi are getting clever with their disguises!' another exclaimed.

While the social media response was light-hearted, this incident shines a spotlight on a reality for anyone planning a tropical Queensland holiday.

Welcome to crocodile country

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Tropical North Queensland is crocodile country, so it's crucial to be croc-wise, regardless of where you are travelling in the region.

The region stretching from Gladstone to Cape York Peninsula is home to Australia's saltwater crocodiles, and no natural waterway in crocodile country is ever 100 per cent risk-free.

What makes this pool invasion noteworthy isn't its rarity, but instead, it has become a familiar occurrence.

The croc in the pool came after another saltwater crocodile sighting on the 10th hole fairway of the Palmer Sea Reef Golf Course, just three kilometres from the said resort.

When Cyclone Jasper hit in 2023, a family in the state's far north found a baby crocodile in their backyard pool.

Small size, serious bite

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While the Sheraton's uninvited guest appeared relatively tiny compared to the massive saltwater crocodiles that can grow up to six metres long, wildlife experts stress that size doesn't diminish the danger.

'I can tell you from experience that even a crocodile at that size can shred a finger,' WIRES volunteer Gary Pattinson told Yahoo News Australia. 'That's a really young one, but they've still got a swift and powerful bite.'

The incident unfolded on Saturday morning when guests first spotted their scaly swimming companion. Hotel manager Joseph Amerio spotted the croc early on Saturday morning. The pool was then cordoned off until Queensland state wildlife officers removed it in the afternoon.

Videos showed the small crocodile, dubbed 'Carlos' by social media users, swimming calmly.

At the same time, resort staff set up barriers and guests lounged nearby, seemingly unbothered by their prehistoric poolmate.

The numbers behind the fear

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Despite crocodiles' fearsome reputation, attacks remain statistically rare. On average, there's one crocodile attack per year in the whole of Queensland, of which one fatality occurs every three years. Since 1985, there have been over 40 crocodile attacks in Queensland, with 12 deaths.

To put this in perspective, statistically, living in London is by far more dangerous. On average, there's one crocodile attack per year in the whole of Queensland, of which one fatality occurs every three years. Comparatively there's about 149 murders in London per year, and about 150,000 knife crime offences.

What this means for holidaymakers

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For seniors planning a tropical Queensland adventure, this incident shouldn't derail your travel plans, but it should inform them.

Provided you follow the signs, exercise caution and are croc-wise, you can safely swim in many spots across the region. For crocodile-free swimming conditions, you're best to head inland to one of these freshwater swimming spots or waterfalls, or venture out to the reef to cool off.

What makes crocodiles particularly challenging for tourism operators is their unpredictability.

Crocodiles are camouflaged by design—not just physically with khaki skin that blends effortlessly into murky river systems, but biologically, with a small hole near their heart, which allows them to hold their breath underwater for more than an hour. They are most active at night and in the breeding season from September to April.

The Sheraton incident occurred during this active period. Occasionally they venture out from time to time to travel to a different creek or find a mate during breeding season, which could take tourists by surprise.

So next time you're lounging by a Queensland resort pool, spare a thought for the ancient residents who've called this land home for millions of years. They might just be looking for a cool dip too—though perhaps it's best if they stick to their own swimming holes.

Have you had any unexpected wildlife encounters during your holiday travels? We'd love to hear your stories—the funny, the frightening, and everything in between—in the comments below.