A worker at a wildlife park in Papua New Guinea tragically lost his life after being viciously mauled by a crocodile. Reports indicate the animal refused to release him for approximately an hour, as colleagues, park visitors, and police personnel desperately attempted to intervene and save him.
The incident occurred on Saturday afternoon at Adventure Park in Port Moresby, when the animal handler was in the process of feeding the crocodile. The reptile reportedly clamped its powerful jaws around the man's legs.
Desperate Rescue Efforts
Footage captured the harrowing scene as the crocodile dragged the worker down and performed a 'death roll' within its enclosure. Another park employee bravely entered the enclosure, repeatedly striking the crocodile's head in an attempt to compel it to release its grip. A visitor also pushed a lengthy pole through the surrounding fence, but these combined efforts proved unsuccessful in freeing the severely injured man.
Koibuga Remdi, an eyewitness present in the crowd, recounted that onlookers felt helpless, unable to do much without endangering themselves. Police were promptly summoned as the attack continued unabated. "Many of us witnessed the incident, but unfortunately, there was very little we could do to help. Our only option was to call the police for assistance,” Remdi stated.
Upon the arrival of officers, park employees began pumping water out of the pond within the enclosure to facilitate easier access for rescuers. Despite these actions, the crocodile maintained its hold on the worker, who suffered significant blood loss.
Unexpected Attack and Fatal Outcome
Mr. Remdi noted: "Some workers said the crocodile had been living there since before Papua New Guinea’s independence and had never attacked the people who fed and cared for it. Sadly, today it unexpectedly turned on its caretaker."
Police eventually resorted to opening fire on the animal. However, even this measure did not immediately end the ordeal. Mr. Remdi claimed that officers were forced to shoot the crocodile 11 times before it finally died, allowing the handler to be pulled free. "It did not die from the first shot,” he explained. "Police had to fire multiple rounds, and it was only after the eleventh shot that the crocodile finally died."
The worker was rushed to 3 Mile General Hospital with severe injuries. Despite intensive efforts to save him, he tragically passed away on Sunday morning.
Another visitor, Gibson John, reported that the worker had been carrying a chicken towards the enclosure just prior to the attack. John told ABC: "He brought the chicken to the fence and the crocodile attacked the person and tried to bring him into the pool. He was in severe pain but he couldn’t scream. He couldn’t speak properly at that time. It was the pain I could see from his eyes. The only thing I could hear him say was, 'I haven’t done anything wrong'."
Background and Safety Concerns
The victim, whose identity has not yet been publicly released, is understood to have been employed at Adventure Park for approximately two years. The precise circumstances that enabled the crocodile to reach him have not yet been definitively established.
This fatality follows several months after videos circulated on social media, appearing to show other park employees interacting with crocodiles at the attraction with what many described as unusual casualness. There is currently no evidence to suggest that the worker killed in Saturday’s attack was among the staff members depicted in those earlier recordings.
One of the clips notably showed a staff member splashing water towards a crocodile while standing mere centimetres from its head. He then appeared to sit on its back, tug at its neck, and stand with one foot resting on the animal during a feeding demonstration. A separate recording depicted another worker approaching the front of an enormous crocodile and touching it on the nose, placing himself directly in line with its formidable jaws.
The previously shared footage had already generated concerns regarding the close proximity of employees to the animals. However, it remains unclear whether the park implemented any responsive actions or whether the conduct displayed in the videos bears any connection to this weekend’s fatal incident.
Crocodiles are known to employ 'death rolls' as a method to overpower and dismember their prey, rapidly twisting their bodies while maintaining a firm grip. In this particular harrowing case, the worker reportedly remained conscious for at least a portion of the prolonged struggle to free him.
Adventure Park has reportedly closed its doors following the death. The Port Moresby attraction is expected to remain shut until further notice, with no official reopening date announced.