A horrifying video has shown the shocking moment a man was dragged away by a crocodile in front of his screaming family in Indonesia.
The man, identified as Arifuddin, 53, had been bathing with relatives along the Bulete River in South Sulawesi on Thursday afternoon when the reptile struck, sinking its teeth into his leg.
The father-of-four cried out in agony as the predator clamped its jaws on him and pulled him further into the water.
Footage captured the horrifying attack, showing Arifuddin desperately reaching out with one arm while struggling to stay afloat in the middle of the river.
Several villagers waded in to try and help as panicked shouts rang out, but he vanished beneath the surface before they could reach him.
Emergency teams rushed to the scene in Wajo Regency after reports of the attack at around 6pm local time.
They later spotted the crocodile carrying the victim’s body through the muddy waters, but could not retrieve it immediately.
The reptile lingered in the area for several hours, swimming in circles before eventually resting on a bank about a mile from where Arifuddin had been seized.
Arifuddin, 53, had been bathing with relatives along the Bulete River in South Sulawesi on Thursday afternoon when the reptile struck
The reptile lingered in the area for several hours, swimming in circles before eventually resting on a bank about a mile from where Arifuddin had been seized
Arifuddin’s remains were recovered and handed over to his relatives for burial
Residents fashioned a crude snare to haul the crocodile closer, pulling it toward them in a tense struggle. They eventually drove it away by throwing rocks.
Arifuddin’s remains were recovered and handed over to his relatives for burial.
Jerry Saputra, from the Pitumpanua Sector Fire Rescue Team, said: ‘Initially, the victim was bathing with his relatives.
But shortly after, he was heard screaming. It became evident to his relatives that a crocodile had attacked him.’
‘We managed to evacuate the victim, and the distance was around one mile from the starting point where he was attacked.’
Locals said they were shocked as the river, often used for bathing and washing clothes, had not previously been considered a crocodile habitat.
Indonesia is home to 14 species of crocodiles, including large and aggressive estuarine crocodiles that thrive in the country’s tropical conditions.
Experts believe overfishing and the destruction of coastal habitats for farming have forced the animals further inland in search of food. Tin mining has also driven people closer to crocodile territory, increasing the likelihood of encounters.
Rescuers later spotted the crocodile carrying the victim’s body through the muddy waters, but could not retrieve it immediately
Brave rescuers battled the beast to retrieve the father-of-four’s body for burial
With many rural communities still relying on rivers for bathing and fishing, the combination has led to a surge in attacks.
Last month, another shocking video filmed in Indonesia showed the moment a crocodile carried a schoolboy’s body away in its jaws while he went fishing.
That same month, also in Indonesia, footage emerged of a grandfather being dragged away by a crocodile in the Tanggamus Regency as he bathed in a river near his home.
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