Extraordinary moment: A crocodile carries the unharmed body of a four-year-old boy to rescuers a mile from where he drowned in an Indonesian river
- Muhammad Ziyad Wijaya, 4, went missing in East Kalimantan two days earlier
- A 10-foot crocodile swam almost 700 feet carrying the boy’s body on its back
- The reptile dropped Muhammad off at a boat on the Mahakam River in Borneo
This is the extraordinary moment when a crocodile carries the unharmed body of a four-year-old boy to rescue workers a mile from where he drowned in a river in Indonesia.
The boy – known locally as Muhammad Ziyad Wijaya – had disappeared two days earlier near the Jawa estuary in East Kalimantan province.
Stunning footage from Borneo’s Mahakam River shows the giant crocodile swimming through the water carrying the boy on its back.
Stunned fishermen spotted the 10-foot reptile swimming nearly 700 feet across the estuary toward a boat.
The boy – known locally as Muhammad Ziyad Wijaya (left) – had disappeared two days earlier near the Jawa estuary in East Kalimantan province
The reptile – usually one of nature’s most ruthless killers – dropped the boy off at a boat, where two men drag the body on board.
It meant the family could be reunited with their son.
Local media reported that there were no bite marks on the body.
Members of the East Kalimantan Search and Rescue Agency received information that a crocodile was carrying the child they were looking for.
Melkanius Kotta, leader of the team, said: “We believe that the crocodile actually helped to find the victim.
‘Nothing is missing. Everything is intact.’
An unnamed bystander filmed the incredible moment as two men in the boat took the dead child.
After that, the crocodile disappeared under the surface of the water.
It is still known what caused Muhammad to drown or if the crocodiles of the estuary had something to do with his death.
According to initial observations, the little boy accidentally fell into the river while playing.
This is the extraordinary moment when a crocodile carries the unharmed body of a four-year-old boy to rescue workers a mile from where he drowned in a river in Indonesia
The reptile – usually one of nature’s most ruthless killers – dropped the boy off at a boat, where two men drag the body on board
There were no bite marks on the boy’s body after the crocodile carried him down the river
The crocodile’s 700-foot swim allowed Muhammad’s family to recover his body
After the footage garnered widespread internet attention, many online viewers speculated that the crocodile deliberately delivered Muhammad out of compassion and instinct.
Crocodiles kill an average of about 1,000 people a year, but generally do not prey on humans.
According to ResearchGate, there were 221 crocodile attacks in Borneo between 2007 and 2016, resulting in 129 deaths.
Sarawak and East Kalimantan had the most reported attacks.
In February last year, a man was eaten alive by a crocodile while bathing in an Indonesian river.
Luther, 51, was bathing in the water in North Kalimantan province when a 13-foot crocodile pulled him underwater as his friends tried to scare the animal away.
Three species of crocodiles are known to inhabit Borneo – the saltwater crocodile, the Siamese crocodile and the tomistoma.