A SEARCH is underway in Sarawak’s crocodile-infested Sungai Seduku for a 47-year-old man who was reported to have been snatched by a reptile while cleaning his fishing boat this morning.

The victim has been identified by authorities as Kong Gindi, a resident of Tuntun Iban longhouse in the Sri Aman division.

He is the second person in the state to fall victim to a crocodile attack this month.

Kong was reported to have taken advantage of this morning’s high tide to clean his boat that was moored to the longhouse jetty.

A friend who was with him, 52-year-old Saji Thomas, told authorities he saw Kong being grabbed by his foot and dragged into deep water by the crocodile.

Thomas said he was standing in the water about 1.5m from Kong when the creature attacked.

Villagers quickly took to their boats to mount a search for their longhouse mate.

Around 11am, they reportedly spotted Kong’s body on the bank of the river 1km from the spot where he was attacked. They also saw a crocodile lurking close to the body.

They later told Fire and Rescue Services Department personnel that when they closed in to the bank to try and retrieve the body, the crocodile grabbed the body and slid underwater with it.

Sg Seduku is a tributary of the equally crocodile-infested Batang Lupar. A small island on the river, Pulau Seduku, is a nesting ground for the reptiles.

On July 2, a 61-year-old man of Kpg Tampan Pusa in Betong was attacked on the banks of Sg Undey while tying together sago palm logs.

One of Sarkawi Talip’s three friends who was with him witnessed the attack.

Authorities called off the search for Sarkawi after eight days without recovering his body. – July 22, 2020.