A CROCODILE has emerged from a river with a missing MAN clenched in its jaws after killing him by biting his groin.
Darlin Uti, 30, was diving in the murky water to clear an underwater pipe near his home in Southeast Sulawesi, Indonesia, when the large crocodile “suddenly pounced”, according to local media.
The victim's sister, who was on the river bank, desperately tried to rescue him by grabbing the hose he used to breathe underwater to pluck him to safety.
But the crocodile thrashed around in the water and disappeared into its depths having plunged its sharp teeth into Darlin's crotch.
Indonesian authorities immediately began searching for the missing man from the Kinapani Village along the Malaoge River.
The Search and Rescue Team (SAR) spotted the missing man's body the next day, when the crocodile reappeared on the surface – with its jaws still clamped around Darlin’s groin.
The poor man’s lower legs and feet can be seen in a horrifying video sticking out of the water, as the huge crocodile floats past before submerging again.
Rescuers boarded boats and chased after the beast, before eventually retrieving his body intact.
Darlin's remains were taken given to his family for a funeral.
LOCALS WARNED TO BE CAUTIOUS
SAR team member Usmanudin said: "There was a huge bite wound in Darlin’s groin which could have caused him to bleed and die, but his body was still intact inside the crocodile's mouth."
Usmanudin also said that the Malaoge River was a thriving habitat for crocodiles in the area and warned locals to be cautious if they have to go into the water.
Tribun Lampung reports that the victim, who worked for a farmer, had been “suctioning sand”.
The paper said that his job was to dive to the bottom of the river with a vacuum hose.
But, when he dived a crocodile “suddenly pounced”.
Baubau SAR post commander Susandi Padli said the victim and his younger brother were mining sand on the Malaoge River using a pump machine.
He added: “At the time, the victim took to the river to inspect the spiral pipe mining pump machine using traditional diving equipment from the wind compressor.
“The victim, who was diving, was immediately attacked by a crocodile."
Darlin's death came just two day afters another man, Subli, 35, was killed by a crocodile after washing his hands in a canal while fishing in the Indragiri Hilir regency.
According to the Natural Resources Conservation Centre, there has been a rise in crocodile attacks in Indonesia since last year.
A local official, Mukhtar Amin Ahmad, said crocodiles were increasingly targeting humans for several reasons.
He added: "It might be driven by the continuous damage to the reptiles' habitat from blast fishing, where explosives are used to stun fish for easy collection.
"Depletion of local fish stocks might be another factor."
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