A father of four was killed by a crocodile in a terrifying incident that happened in front of his family.
The man, identified only as Arifuddin, was swimming in the Bulete River in South Sulawesi, Indonesia, on Thursday, Aug. 14, at around 6 p.m. local time, according to ViralPress.
Arifuddin, 53, was bathing in the river with relatives when a crocodile attacked him, biting his leg and pulling him underwater, the news outlet reported.
A video of the attack from ViralPress shows the crocodile grabbing the man’s legs. Several villagers jumped into the water to help, while others screamed from the shore.
Emergency workers were called to the scene. They later found the crocodile carrying Arifuddin’s lifeless body in muddy, shallow water, ViralPress said.
Local residents were finally able to recover Arifuddin’s remains and return them to his family for burial.
Jerry Saputra, a representative from the Pitumpanua Sector Fire Rescue Team, said Arifuddin’s body was found about one mile from where the attack happened, according to ViralPress.
The Associated Press reported in March that crocodile attacks in Indonesia are increasing. There were 179 attacks in 2024, the highest number in the world.
Experts say the rise in attacks is linked to the growth of palm oil plantations. These plantations create more man-made waterways, allowing crocodiles to move closer to human areas, according to the AP.
