23-year-old man killed by crocodile in Malaysia: 'Vanished in an instant'

The crocodile reptile lunged at the man and attacked him and his body was found at 7:20 am local time with scratches on the chest, back and back of the neck. (Representational Image).

A 23-year-old man was killed by a crocodile in Malaysia, even as three of his friends watched on, an Independent report said.

The incident took place on Wednesday in Sabah state of the country where the four men had been to trap crabs in the waters of Kampung Tinagian, Tanjung Labian when the reptile lunged at the man and attacked him.

"The three friends could only watch as the attack happened in a split second," local district police chief Rohan Shah Ahmad told Star.

"The friend vanished in an instant [into the water] before they could do anything," he added.

The man's body was found at 7:20 am local time nearly 5 km away at the beach at Kampung Tanjung Batu with scratches on the chest, back and back of the neck. Also, bite marks were found on the head and the left arm, as well.

Ahmad added that this was the first attack in the region and cautioned visitors to remain careful in future.

"This was the first such attack in Lahad Datu this year," he said.

This is not the first instance when crocodiles have attacked a man and others have not been able rescue the person.

A 29-year-old Costa Rican footballer was killed by a crocodile after he had jumped into a river. Jesus Alberto Lopez Ortiz, better known as Chucho was attacked by the reptile after diving off a bridge into the Canas river.

Also read: Crocodiles from Ganga enter residential areas in Haridwar