Sabah Crocodile Attack: Young Boy Missing, Father Hospitalized After River Horror
A quiet morning turned into a nightmare on Thursday, June 19, when a young boy from Lahad Datu, Sabah, was pulled from a canoe by a crocodile in a shocking and tragic encounter.
The incident occurred while the child and his father were near the riverbank, with the father fishing when the attack took place.
Authorities say the crocodile lunged from the water with little warning, seizing the child in front of his father’s eyes. In a frantic attempt to rescue his son, the man fought the reptile but sustained serious injuries to his head and torso. Nearby villagers managed to pull him from the water and rushed him to safety.
Sumsoa Rashid, chief of the Lahad Datu Fire and Rescue Department, confirmed the boy is still missing, and an urgent search and rescue operation is ongoing. “The father is now being treated at Lahad Datu Hospital for multiple injuries. We are doing everything we can to locate the child,” he said.
He added that residents of the area, many of whom rely on the river for fishing and transport, face frequent risks from crocodile encounters. “We have issued an immediate public advisory asking all villagers to avoid the waterway while we assess the danger. The animal is still believed to be in the area.”
The Royal Malaysian Police have joined the effort, combing the riverbanks and using boats to track any signs of the missing child or the animal involved.
Crocodile attacks, while uncommon, have previously had fatal outcomes in the region and other parts of Southeast Asia. A notable case in 2022 saw Australian officials euthanize a crocodile in Lake Argyle after it bit a swimmer and displayed threatening behavior. The animal had also been approaching boats, prompting authorities to declare it a public safety threat.
In Lahad Datu, this latest tragedy has reignited concern about how local communities coexist with wildlife, especially as economic necessity keeps many in close contact with rivers and forests.
A Community in Mourning
The disappearance of the young boy has sent shockwaves through the tight-knit community, with neighbors and relatives joining authorities in the search. As fear grips the region, the conversation is shifting toward long-term safety measures and whether more stringent wildlife monitoring should be implemented in rural fishing zones.
Closing Thoughts
This devastating event underscores the thin line between daily life and danger in communities that depend on natural resources. While the search continues, families are being reminded to stay alert near waterways and heed wildlife warnings. For one family in Sabah, a normal fishing trip became a life-altering tragedy—one that calls for not only immediate action but also reflection on how to better safeguard those living alongside nature.