Ketereh man battles crocodile and wins

This was how carpenter Ibrahim Nor described his predicament after fighting free from the jaws of a hungry crocodile in Ketereh last Sunday night.

Ibrahim, 58, and three friends were cleaning fishing nets on the banks of the Sungai Gong after catching prawns when he felt a searing pain on his left leg.

"At that juncture, I saw a crocodile had snapped its jaws shut on the thigh, knee and calf.

"I struggled to break free and then fled from the man-eater which disappeared into the river," he told reporters when met at his house in Kampung Tualang Rendah here today.

He said his three friends sent him to the Tengku Anis Hospital here where he noticed the reptile's bite marks measured 20cm in length.

Ibrahim said he was aware there were crocodiles in the river as villagers had seen them, adding that the attack last Sunday was the first, thus far.

"I have been catching prawns in the river for 12 years and had never been attacked by crocodiles even though many villagers reminded me to be careful when fishing in the river," he said.

Meanwhile, Kelantan Wildlife and National Parks director, Mohammad Khairi Ahmad said a team from the department would be sent to the river to catch the crocodile.