Nine-year-old boy killed in suspected crocodile attack in Kudat

KUDAT, Nov 11 — A nine-year-old boy was killed in a suspected crocodile attack while trying to retrieve a fishing hook caught in Sungai Semayan, Kampung Semayan, Pulau Banggi, today.

The victim, identified as Mohamad Hilmi Nurjahid, was a Year Three pupil of Sekolah Kebangsaan Semayan.

Kudat District Police Chief Supt Mohd Haris Ibrahim said the incident occurred at about 3.30pm while the boy was fishing with his elder brother.

He said the boy went into the river to free his fishing hook but subsequently disappeared, believed to have been snatched by a crocodile.

A search and rescue operation involving police, Civil Defence Force personnel and villagers was launched after a report was received at about 4.30pm.

The boy was found by his father at about 8.10pm beneath Sungai Semayan Bridge, not far from where he was last seen.