A young boy in East Kalimantan, Indonesia, miraculously survived after a crocodile lunged at him and dragged him underwater while he was playing beneath a stilt house near a riverbank.
The horrifying attack, which took place on Sunday (9 Nov) in Muara Bengalon Village, was captured in a video showing villagers screaming, scrambling, and fearlessly diving in to save the child.
According to Bengalon Police Chief AKP Asriadi Jafar (name transliterated), the attack unfolded when the boy was playing on a wooden bridge under the house.
Without warning, a crocodile suddenly emerged from the water and bit the child, dragging him beneath the surface.
“The crocodile pulled the victim into the water. Fortunately, residents reacted quickly and managed to save him,” AKP Asriadi said on Wednesday (12 Nov).
Eyewitness accounts reveal the intensity of the rescue.
One witness immediately jumped into the river and tried to grab the crocodile’s tail, but lost his grip.
Another villager then rushed in to help free the boy from the crocodile’s mouth.
“Thanks to their quick action, the victim was successfully rescued,” AKP Asriadi added.
The boy suffered serious injuries to his neck and body but was successfully evacuated from the water and rushed to the nearest hospital for emergency treatment, according to Indonesia’s news outlet Poros Jakarta.
He is currently receiving intensive medical care, and doctors report that his condition is gradually improving.
Source: Poros Jakarta
As a gesture of support, AKP Asriadi and local police personnel visited the boy at the hospital to provide moral encouragement to the family.
“We are deeply concerned about this incident. We urge the community to stay alert, especially children who often play around rivers or waterways that serve as crocodile habitats,” the police chief said.
Authorities reminded residents living in coastal and riverside areas of East Kutai to maintain heightened vigilance, noting that crocodile sightings and attacks have become increasingly common near residential settlements.
Also read: Woman in India killed & dragged away by crocodile while washing in river, body found half-eaten
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Featured image adapted from Poros Jakarta and iNews Kaltim.