Aussie influencer Mitchell Orval posts clip with tiny son dangerously close to saltwater crocodile in NT

Aussie influencer Mitchell Orval has shared a spine-tingling video of himself and his young son standing alarmingly close to a saltwater crocodile while on holiday.

The 27-year-old’s unnerving post is one of many documenting his family’s dreamy holiday to Tiwi Island in the Northern Territory.

Orval’s short clip captioned “On the beach of the retreat” opens with a shot of him holding his son’s hand while standing on golden sand facing a picturesque horizon.

Panning his camera up towards the water, Orval zooms in on a beady eyed croc floating curiously in the shallow water, only a few metres away — a little too close for comfort.

The pair’s proximity to the scaly island native is nothing short of brazen, with saltwater crocodiles being deadly expert hunters.

The Tiwi Land Council’s camping protocols warn that attacks by crocs can be fatal.

“Crocodiles are common on the Tiwi Islands, you must always assume that saltwater crocodiles are present in any waterway,” it says.

“Don’t become complacent; crocodile danger is real and attacks can be fatal.

“Saltwater crocodiles can attack people in boats and the smaller the boat, the greater the risk.”

The post has been hit with backlash online from social media users expressing their serious concerns.

His string of beachside Instagram stories come as Orval basks in what has been an incredibly momentous 24 hours after he announced his engagement to long-time partner and fellow influencer Chloe Szepanowski.