21-8-2024 (JAKARTA) A 54-year-old woman named Halima Rahakbauw met a tragic end after being attacked by a four-metre-long crocodile while bathing in a river in Desa Wali, Namrole District, Buru Selatan Regency, Maluku. Locals were forced to cut open the crocodile’s stomach to retrieve the victim’s legs and arms, which had been swallowed by the reptile.
The horrifying event occurred on Tuesday morning, 20 August 2024, at around 07:30 WIT. Halima had initially gone to the village’s beach to collect shellfish. Afterward, she went to the river to bathe when the crocodile suddenly emerged and attacked her.
Rustam Elyas, a resident of Desa Wali who witnessed the incident, reported it to the village chief. The village chief then sought police assistance due to the victim’s limbs being swallowed by the crocodile.
“The victim met a gruesome fate, with her legs and arms swallowed by a crocodile approximately four metres long,” Rustam told Detikcom.
The police arrived at the scene and had to shoot the crocodile dead. Afterwards, villagers dragged the crocodile ashore and cut open its stomach to retrieve the victim’s limbs.
Seto from the Maluku BKSDA Forestry Police confirmed the incident, stating that the crocodile was killed to recover Halima’s hands and feet from its stomach.
