A 53-year-old man tragically lost his life in a crocodile attack while bathing with his family in the Bulete River in South Sulawesi, Indonesia, on the afternoon of August 14, 2025. Arifuddin was attacked by the crocodile around 6 p.m. local time when it emerged from the river and grabbed his leg.
Video footage captured the incident, showing the victim struggling to reach the riverbank while trying to remain above water as the crocodile held on. Villagers attempted a rescue, wading into the water amid panicked cries, but Arifuddin disappeared beneath the surface before they could reach him.
The Wajo Regency emergency response teams were alerted to the attack. Rescuers later saw the crocodile carrying the body through the muddy waters, but were initially unable to recover it. The reptile remained in the area, swimming in circles for hours before resting on a riverbank about one mile from the attack site.
Jerry Saputra from the Pitumpanua Sector Fire Rescue Team confirmed the sequence of events. “Initially, the victim was bathing with his relatives,” Saputra stated, noting that the attack became evident when Arifuddin’s screams alerted his family members to the danger.
Local residents created a simple snare in an effort to bring the crocodile closer to shore and recover the victim’s body. They eventually drove the animal away by throwing rocks, allowing them to retrieve Arifuddin’s remains and return them to his family.
The community expressed shock at the incident, noting that the Bulete River is often used for bathing and washing clothes. Residents indicated that the river had not been considered a crocodile habitat, making the attack unexpected.
Indonesia is home to 4 species of crocodiles, including large estuarine crocodiles that thrive in the tropical climate. Environmental experts suggest that overfishing and the destruction of coastal habitats for agriculture have pushed these animals further inland in search of food.
Tin mining activities have also brought human populations closer to crocodile areas, increasing the chances of encounters. Many rural communities continue to rely on rivers for daily needs like bathing and fishing, heightening the risk of attacks.
This attack is part of a broader trend of increasing crocodile incidents in Indonesia. In April, another father was killed in a similar attack, and despite efforts to save him, he was dragged underwater. In that incident, Sarangadi, aged 49, died.
In March, a 10-year-old boy named Fikri Qurniawansyah was killed by a crocodile while playing in a river in Riau province. He was with friends in a makeshift canoe when attacked.
More incidents occurred in July, including attacks on a schoolboy and a grandfather. Video from one incident showed a crocodile carrying away the boy’s body after he went fishing. Another video depicted a grandfather being dragged away by a crocodile while bathing near his home in Tanggamus Regency.
The combination of environmental degradation, habitat destruction, and human encroachment into crocodile areas has contributed to the rise in attacks. Overfishing has reduced food sources in traditional crocodile habitats, while coastal development has destroyed crucial ecosystem areas.
