Tourist Mistakes Crocodile for Statue, Nearly Dies in Attack

Post by: Layla Badr

A tourist’s attempt to take a selfie nearly turned deadly when he mistook a real crocodile for a statue at Kabug Mangrove Park in Zamboanga Sibugay, Philippines.

The 29-year-old man, whose name hasn't been shared, walked into shallow water to take a picture with what he thought was a lifelike crocodile sculpture. However, the situation quickly turned dangerous when the 15-foot crocodile suddenly lunged at him and grabbed him with its powerful jaws. The crocodile dragged him into the water, right in front of shocked visitors at the park.

The struggle lasted for more than 30 minutes. Park staff, along with a crocodile handler, worked quickly to rescue the man from the crocodile's grip. After a tough battle, they managed to free him, but the man was badly injured. He was covered in blood and in shock, and he was rushed to a nearby hospital where doctors treated his serious wounds. The crocodile’s bites were deep, and the man needed over 50 stitches to close them.

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A video showing the aftermath of the attack was shared by Police Sergeant Joel Sajolga. In the video, the man is seen inside a protective cage, visibly shaken. "This man did a stupid thing and got trapped," Sajolga wrote with the clip.

The incident quickly went viral, and many people online were shocked. Some couldn’t understand how anyone could mistake a real crocodile for a statue, while others questioned the safety measures at the park.

In response to the event, local authorities and park officials have asked the public to always follow safety rules and treat wild animals with care, even in places where they are supposed to be controlled.

Despite his serious injuries, the man is expected to fully recover, which is considered lucky because crocodiles usually kill by drowning or tearing apart their victims. Park officials are now reviewing the safety signs and guidelines for visitors to make sure something like this doesn’t happen again.

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