A fisherman from the western Filipino island province of Palawan has been killed in a crocodile attack, say officials.
The coast guard discovered an empty fishing vessel in the Rio Tuba River on Thursday, and upon investigation found a saltwater crocodile trying to wrestle a dead man’s body away from the boat to which he was tied.
The crocodile released the body from its jaws and fled after being fired at by the coast guard.
According to the Manila Times, the local fisherman was diving for sea cucumbers, with the boat tied to his ankle so it would not float away, when he was attacked.
Saltwater crocodiles, which are known to attack humans on occasion, usually reside in mangrove swamps, estuaries, deltas, lagoons, and lower stretches of rivers, and are still common in Palawan where there are many forested areas.
