KOMPAS.com – A 14-year-old villager wrestled with a crocodile by hitting its head in a river in Indonesia’s province of East Kalimantan on Borneo on Thursday, September 17.
The student of a junior high school in Bontang, identified only by the initial AN, was attacked by the crocodile while swimming with two friends in the river in Mandar Village, Lok Tuan.
They screamed for help when the crocodile grabbed the teenager by the left leg and rib. AN hit the crocodile’s head until it released AN.
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Their screams reached the ears of AN’s brother Ian Setyawan, who at that time was playing an online game at his house near the waterfront of Mandar.
“I was surprised upon hearing the cries for help,” said Ian. Along with other villagers, Ian rushed to the location of the incident, about 20 meters away from the waterfront.
He said he thought his sibling would not survive. “I thought the crocodile had taken my sibling.”
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Upon reaching the river, Ian found his sibling and two other children safe. AN had beed released by the crocodile.
“They safely climbed onto the mangrove trees,” said Ian.
AN, however, suffered injuries after AN was bitten by the crocodile. AN is now receiving treatment at Pupuk Kaltim Hospital in Bontang.
(Writer: Zakarias Demon Daton | Editors: Teuku Muhammad Baldy Arief, Pythag Kurniati)
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