By ANTHONY KAYBING
A YOUNG man from Solos in the Autonomous Region of Bougainville was snatched by a huge salt water crocodile along the Kavex beachfront in Selau district on Wednesday morning.
He was swimming near the shore when the crocodile attacked.
Villagers heard his cry for help but by the time they reached the spot, the crocodile had taken him under water.
They then tried to prevent the crocodile, estimated at 7m, from going to deeper water. Police soon arrived and shot the crocodile.
A police spokesman said they tried to pull the dead crocodile onto the boat but it slipped back into the sea.
The police returned the next day to retrieve the crocodile’s carcass but were hindered by strong winds.
The carcass was washed ashore the following day. The victim’s body was also washed ashore soon after.
During the weekend, two men fishing in the same area encountered another crocodile.
Police said there were likely to be more crocodiles in the area and have advised people to be careful.