Adolescent Muna Central Sulawesi Lost To Crocodile Found Dead

KENDARI - National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas) of Kendari conveyed that a teenager named Faysal (18) who was missing was attacked by a crocodile at the mouth of the river in Labulubulu Village, Parigi District, Muna Regency, Southeast Sulawesi, and was found dead.

The head of Kendari Basarnas, Aris Sofingi, said the victim was found by the joint SAR team on the second day of the search operation.

"The victim was found dead on the second day of the search operation. The victim was found Tuesday at around 07.12 WITA this morning", said Aris in an official statement in Kendari, reported by Antara on Tuesday, March 1st.

After the joint SAR team was found, the victim was then evacuated and handed over to his family for burial.

"The victim was found about 2 km east of the upstream of the river", said Aris.

The SAR operation against the victim, who is a resident of Labulubulu Village, also involved the rescue team from the Muna SAR alert unit, personnel from the Muna Water and Air Police Post, Parigi Police personnel, members of the Kabawo Military District Command, Labulubulu Village Advisory Officer, local village government, local communities and the families of the victims.

"With the discovery of the victim, the SAR operation against the victim is declared complete, where all the elements involved are returned to their respective units", he explained.

It was previously explained that the victim was on the riverbank in Labulubulu Village at around 09.55 WITA to witness the traditional Balinese Melasti ceremony. At that time the victim saw a duck that was released into the river so the victim took the initiative to swim to catch the duck.

"One of the residents who saw the victim swimming tried to warn him but the victim didn't hear him and kept swimming, which eventually caused the victim to be attacked by a crocodile", said Aris.