Joint Basarnas Team in Pasaman Evacuates Crocodile-Attack Victim

A joint team from the National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas) Pasaman, West Sumatra, located and evacuated Darwin (61), a local resident who was mauled by a crocodile and found dead in the Batang Paparian River in Parik Koto Balingka District, on Wednesday. ‘The victim was found 20 metres from the initial location where he disappeared,’ said Pasaman SAR Post Coordinator (OSC) Novi Yurandi in Simpang Empat, on Wednesday. He said the crocodile attack on the victim occurred on Tuesday (19 May) at around 15:00 WIB while he was collecting lokan with a friend in the Batang Paparian River. While collecting lokan, the victim was suddenly attacked by a crocodile, while his friend survived and reported the incident to the local people. ‘We also conducted searches until 19:30 WIB; because the weather did not permit, the search was continued on Wednesday (20 May),’ he said. ‘At present, the victim has been transported to the funeral home for the wake and will be laid to rest soon,’ he said. According to him, the search and evacuation involved the Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD), the Indonesian Navy (TNI AL), the Police (Polri), and local residents. ‘In the search, we deployed several pieces of equipment, including a drone, an ambulance, trail motorcycles, water SAR equipment, and other gear,’ he added.