A crocodile handler desperately clung to the edge of a pool as the huge reptile seized his legs and pulled him into the water during a horrifying attack at a wildlife park in Papua New Guinea.
The worker had been attempting to feed a crocodile inside an enclosure at Adventure Park in Port Moresby on Saturday afternoon when the animal suddenly lunged.
What followed was captured on video, showing bystanders desperately trying to help as the handler struggled to escape the crocodile’s grip.
The man was eventually freed and rushed to hospital, but after spending more than an hour trapped in the animal’s jaws, he died from his injuries on Sunday morning, according to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
‘He Couldn’t Scream’
Eyewitness Gibson John described the terrifying moments after the attack.
“He brought the chicken to the fence and the crocodile attacked the person and tried to bring him into the pool,” John said, according to reports.
The handler appeared to be in extreme pain but was unable to properly speak or call for help.
“He was in severe pain but he couldn’t scream. He couldn’t speak properly at that time,” John recalled. “It was the pain I could see from his eyes.”
According to John, the only words he clearly heard from the injured worker were: “I haven’t done anything wrong.”
A large crowd had gathered around the enclosure as the desperate rescue unfolded.
The man was taken to 3 Mile General Hospital for treatment but died from his injuries on Sunday. Chaicks Marn / Facebook
Bystanders Tried to Pull Him Free
Video from the scene showed the handler holding onto the edge of the pool while a bystander offered him a pole in an attempt to help him get away from the crocodile.
His legs appeared to remain trapped in the animal’s jaws.
In another part of the footage, a second bystander could be seen gripping the man’s arms from outside the pool as he struggled and groaned in pain.
Police eventually shot the crocodile, allowing rescuers to free the handler.
Visitors were reportedly evacuated from the park while the emergency unfolded.
John later said he was told the man had lost a leg before being transported to 3 Mile General Hospital by St John Ambulance.
Despite the efforts to save him, he died from his injuries the following morning.
A closing notice at Adventure Park. ABC News (Australia)
Worker Had Been at the Park for Two Years
The victim was reportedly from the Western Islands in northern Papua New Guinea and had worked at Adventure Park for around two years.
The park was subsequently closed until further notice.
Staff members gathered at a funeral home on Sunday as the community mourned the worker’s death.
Adventure Park regularly hosts crocodile-feeding demonstrations in which employees interact closely with the animals.
Papua New Guinea’s official tourism website describes the attraction as a family destination featuring rides, wildlife, gardens and outdoor activities.
The fatal attack has now raised renewed questions about the risks faced by workers who handle large wild animals at close range.
Entrance sign for Adventure Park in Papua New Guinea. ABC News (Australia)
Tragedy Highlights the Danger of Wildlife Encounters
Crocodiles are powerful predators capable of moving with extraordinary speed over short distances, making even routine feeding demonstrations potentially dangerous.
For the worker involved, what appeared to be a familiar part of his job turned into a life-threatening emergency in a matter of seconds.
The footage has left viewers horrified, particularly because it captures the frantic attempts by members of the public to help before authorities were able to intervene.
The park’s closure following the incident is expected to remain in place while the circumstances surrounding the attack are examined.
The tragedy also serves as a grim reminder that even experienced handlers can face devastating consequences when working in close proximity to powerful wild animals.