Sampit (Antara Kalteng) - Crocodiles in the Mentaya River, East Kotawaringin District, Central Kalimantan, seemed to be in rage again. A fisherman, Julhaidir (41), was attacked until his arm broke up.
"The incident really happened. The victim was rushed to the hospital. We sincerely hope this will become the government's attention so it can be addressed," Yansyah, a resident in Sampit, said Friday night.
It was occurred at around 6:30 p.m. when the victim bathed in the Seranggas River, which is a tributary of the Mentaya River in the Lempuyang Village area.
A large crocodile was thought to have been around the lanting (raft) where the victim bathed, while the victim did not realize it. All of a sudden, when the victim extended his hand to fetch water, a large crocodile appeared and immediately pounced his left hand.
The ferocious animal pulled the victim until the victim's body was dragged into the river. The victim tried his best to escape the bite of a crocodile.
The strength of the crocodile's bite made the victim's left hand cut off to the elbow. There when the victim with the remaining ability swam to the surface of the river.
He shouted for help and residents arrived. People rushed to get him out from the river before the ferocious crocodile appeared again.
Residents immediately evacuated the victim to Samuda Pratama Hospital. Reportedly the victim will be referred to Dr. Murjani Sampit Hospital for more intensive treatment.
The Central Kalimantan Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA) post commander in Sampit Muriansyah when confirmed said his party was coordinating related to the incident. This is the first occurrence of a crocodile attack on humans in 2019.
Muriansyah urged the public to increase awareness when they were in the river. People are asked to avoid activities in the river when it starts to get dark, because that is when it is very vulnerable to the appearance of crocodiles.
Almost every year crocodile attacks on humans occur on the Mentaya River. BKSDA has long been putting up notice boards warning the public to be alert to crocodile attacks because there is crocodile habitats, estimated in the area of Lepeh Island which is located in the middle of the Mentaya River.
