An Indonesian lady was attacked by a crocodile for 90 minutes before being rescued and transported to a hospital.
Falmira De Jesus, a 38-year-old palm oil plantation farmer from Indonesia’s West Kalimantan Province, was gathering water from a shallow, greenery-covered creek in Ketapang Regency on July 27 when she was attacked by a crocodile that had been waiting for her.
As the woman neared the body of water, the enormous snake sprang from the vegetation, grabbed her leg, and dragged her into it.
Falmira managed to scream for aid and battle the crocodile long enough for her plantation coworkers to arrive and assist her. The brave woman is shown with only her head above water, attempting to hold on for dear life to wooden poles stretched in the water by her coworkers, as others poke the water with sticks to deter the crocodile.
“I was in pain from where the crocodile was holding me. I couldn’t break free,” Falmira recalled. “Then I started to feel like I was becoming weaker. I just thought I was going to die, because I was falling below the water.”
According to witnesses, the crocodile held Falmira for 90 minutes and continuously tried to pull her down into the water. Fortunately for her, the water was not too deep, and other people arrived to assist her over time. The reptile eventually chose to let go of its victim and flee. Her coworkers braved the water to pull her out, and she was taken to the nearest hospital.
“I lie in the hospital and can still see the crocodile in my mind, and feel it on my body,” the 38-year-old survivor said. “I am very grateful for people that helped me to escape. They saved my life.”
Doctors informed Indonesian media that the mother-of-two sustained significant puncture wounds on her right arm, thigh, and lower leg, but she is expected to recover completely, which many see as nothing short of a miracle.
Local police applauded Falmira for her bravery in fighting the crocodile for more than 90 minutes, as well as those who assisted her throughout the incident, but cautioned employees and neighbours around the plantation to be extra cautious while approaching bodies of water. After all, Indonesia is home to 14 different crocodile species.
