Crocodile Mauls Amusement Park Worker to Death in Papua New Guinea
A crocodile attacked and killed a handler during a routine feeding show at Adventure Park in Port Moresby. The victim clung to the pool edge for over an hour before being rescued, later dying at 3 Mile General Hospital.
A fatal incident occurred on Saturday, September 5, at Adventure Park in Port Moresby, the capital of Papua New Guinea. The employee, whose identity has not yet been released, was inside a fenced enclosure during a routine feeding of the crocodiles. Gibson John, a visitor at the scene, told ABC that the handler brought chicken to the fence to feed the crocodile. According to him, the animal lunged at the worker and attempted to drag him into the water.
Footage circulated online shows the employee partially submerged in the pool, clinging to its edge, while the crocodile holds his legs in its jaws. One bystander passed a pole to him through the fence, and another person tried to support him from the outside while the crowd watched helplessly.
Delayed Rescue and Fatal Injuries
According to John, the employee remained in this position for over an hour before emergency services arrived. The security guards on site were unarmed, so they provided him with a small iron bar to hold onto while waiting for rescue.
Gibson John recalled the harrowing moments:
"He was in terrible pain but could not scream. He struggled to speak and only said at one point: 'I didn't do anything wrong.'"
Police officers and medical personnel who arrived at the scene ordered visitors to clear the area. According to reports, officers shot the crocodile to release the employee from its jaws. He was then rushed to a local hospital.
John stated that he was later informed the employee had lost one of his legs due to the severity of his injuries. He was urgently evacuated to the 3 Mile General Hospital, but succumbed to his wounds at around 07:00 on Sunday morning.
Adventure Park regularly hosts crocodile feeding shows where staff members operate in close proximity to the animals. Following the employee's death, the park has been closed until further notice, and staff members gathered to prepare for the funeral. It is currently unknown whether authorities have launched an official investigation into safety protocols at the venue.
