KUDAT: A nine-year-old boy was killed in a crocodile attack while fishing with his brother at Sungai Semayan, Pulau Banggi, yesterday afternoon.
The Year Three pupil of SK Semayan was attacked around 3.30pm when he entered the river to free a fishing hook that had become snagged.
Kudat district police chief Superintendent Mohd Haris Ibrahim said police received information about the incident from a school teacher around 4.30pm.
“The victim is believed to have entered the river to free his snagged fishing hook before being attacked by a crocodile.
“Following the incident, a search operation was launched involving the police, the Civil Defence Force and villagers,” he said when contacted.
Haris said the boy’s body was found beneath the Sungai Semayan bridge after several hours of searching.
He said an examination found injuries to the victim’s head.
“The body was taken to the Karakit police station before being sent to Kudat Hospital for further action.
“An autopsy will be conducted once confirmation is received from the forensic department of Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Kota Kinabalu,” he said.
He said the case was classified as sudden death.