Junior High School Student Dies After Crocodile Attack While Bathing in Mamuju Tengah River

A junior high school student named Sinjo (15) died after being attacked by a crocodile in the Budong-budong River, Mamuju Tengah Regency, West Sulawesi. The victim’s body was found by residents approximately one kilometre from the initial location where he was bitten by the predator.

The incident began when the victim and his sibling were bathing in the river in Batu Sitanduk neighbourhood, Tobadak sub-district, on Monday (17/8) at around 5.16 pm local time. The victim was attacked by the crocodile while in the river at a depth of around 40 centimetres.

“After entering the water, at a depth of around knee level or approximately 40 centimetres, some time later, the child was attacked by the crocodile and pulled under the water,” said Hamka, Head of Preparedness and Prevention at the Mamuju Tengah Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD), as reported by detikSulsel on Wednesday (19/8/2026).

The victim immediately screamed for help from his sibling. Upon seeing her younger brother being dragged by the crocodile, the victim’s sister attempted to strike the predator.

“His sibling managed to hit the crocodile, but given the circumstances, the victim had already been bitten and was ultimately pulled down towards deeper water,” he explained.

The crocodile is believed to have dragged the victim towards the middle of the river, reaching a distance of one kilometre. Residents who had gathered to conduct a search found the victim already deceased with crocodile bite wounds on his back.