KUDAT: A nine-year-old boy died after being eaten by a crocodile while fishing in Sungai Semayan, Pulau Banggi, here, on Tuesday.
In the incident at 3.30pm, the victim was said to have gone to the river to fish with his biological brother before he was suddenly grabbed by the reptile.
It is understood that the Year Three student at Sekolah Kebangsaan (SK) Semayan was attacked by the crocodile when he went down to the river to remove his fishing hook that had gotten stuck.
Kudat District Police Chief, Superintendent Mohd Haris Ibrahim, said his department received information about the incident from a teacher at the school at about 4.30pm.
“The victim is believed to have gone down to the river to remove his fishing hook that had become stuck before being grabbed by a crocodile.
“Following the incident, a search operation was carried out by the police together with the Malaysian Civil Defence Force (APM) and villagers,” he said when contacted, yesterday.
Mohd Haris said that after several hours of searching, the victim was found dead under the Sungai Semayan Bridge, not far from where the victim was attacked.
He said that examination found that the victim suffered head injuries and had been sent to Kudat Hospital for further action.
“The autopsy process will be carried out after receiving confirmation from the forensic department at Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Kota Kinabalu, and so far, the case is classified as sudden death (SDR),” he said. – Fardy Bungga
The location where the victim was reportedly attacked by the crocodile while trying to remove a stuck fishing hook.
Mohd Haris said his department received information about the incident from a teacher at the school at about 4.30pm.
