ELEANOR DYE FROM DAILYMAIL
Extraordinary moment a crocodile carries the intact body of a boy, four, to rescuers a mile away from where he drowned in Indonesian river
- Muhammad Ziyad Wijaya, 4, went missing in East Kalimantan two days before
- A 10-foot-long crocodile swam nearly 700 feet carrying the boy on its back
- The reptile dropped the boy off at a boat on the Mahakam River in Borneo
This is the extraordinary moment a crocodile carries the intact body of a four-year-old boy to rescuers a mile away from where he drowned in a river in Indonesia.
The boy – named in local media as Muhammad Ziyad Wijaya – had gone missing two days before near the Jawa Estuary in the province of East Kalimantan.
Startling footage from the Mahakam River in Borneo shows the giant croc swimming through the water carrying the youngster on its back.
Baffled fishermen spotted the 10-foot-long reptile as it swam nearly 700 feet across the estuary bay towards a boat.
The reptile – normally one of nature’s most ruthless killers – dropped the body by a boat, where two men are seen pulling the boy’s body aboard.
It meant that the family could be reunited with their son.
Local media reports 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 had been looking for.
Melkanius Kotta, leader of the team, said: ‘We think the crocodile actually aided in the search for the victim.
‘Nothing is missing. Everything is intact.’
An unnamed bystander filmed the incredible moment as the two men inside the boat quickly took over the dead child.
The crocodile then disappeared beneath the surface of the water.
It is now yet known what caused Muhammad to drown or if the estuary’s crocodiles had anything to do with his death.
Initial observations allegedly show that the little boy was not a victim of the giant reptile, but accidentally fell into the river while playing.
