‘Scenes of hell’: Crocodile emerges from water with lifeless body of housewife after killing her in 'death roll'

Local authorities used chicken to distract the crocodile and retrieved the body from its jaws. The reptile was later captured and killed.

A 46-year-old woman on the island of Sumatra, Indonesia, lost her life after being brutally attacked by a crocodile. Reportedly, she was dragged underwater by the reptile after being put in a “death roll” when she visited the waterbody to wash her feet.

Eye-witness account

The crocodile dragged the woman and resurfaced with her lifeless body after an hour (representational image). (Unsplash/Glen Carrie)

Agustinus, a 40-year-old resident who witnessed the incident, opened up about the horrifying scene to Metro. “I saw the crocodile attacking Nurhawati on the surface of the water. We shouted but it would not release her,” he said, adding, “It was a terrible sight. Worse than any of the scenes of hell. Her blood was spilling into the water.”

About the horrifying incident:

Reportedly, after that, the reptile disappeared underwater with the woman. Almost an hour later, it resurfaced, but this time with the woman’s lifeless body between its jaws.

Following the brutal attack, the animal was shot and killed. Officials reportedly expressed concerns about a "serious threat" posed to the locals by crocodiles in the area.

Authorities are concerned:

“Many of these wild animals are still roaming the coast of Tello Island. I am worried that if this problem is not addressed, it will become a serious threat to the residents there. Where the majority of residents’ settlements are on the coast and their livelihoods are at sea,” Kornelius Wau, head of the Pulau-Pulau Batu Sub-district told the outlet.

“I have asked the North Sumatra Provincial Government through the North Sumatra Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA) to take real action,” the head added.