Elderly woman seriously hurt in croc attack in Kudat

KOTA KINABALU: An elderly woman was seriously injured after she was attacked by a crocodile when she went to get water from a river near her house on Banggi Island, Kudat.

The 79-year-old sustained big tears and bite marks to her arms and legs following the Monday (Jan 15) incident at Kampung Damaran.

Kudat OCPD Supt Mohd Haris Ibrahim said in the 1.50pm incident, the victim was believed to be getting water by the riverbank when the reptile attacked.

“Luckily, there were other villagers around and they managed to scare the crocodile away,” he said when contacted.

It is learnt that villagers had used whatever they could including sticks and their hands to beat the reptile while others pulled the victim away from its jaws.

"They got her to safety after the crocodile released its grip and took her to the Kudat hospital for treatment," he said, adding that the woman was in a stable condition.

Supt Mohd Haris said the Wildlife Department had been alerted for further action.