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Jan 22, 2010
Villager fights off crocodile
KUCHING - A MALAYSIAN lorry driver survived a crocodile attack by poking the reptile in its eyes repeatedly when it refused to let go of him. Mr Mathias Winston, 37, from Kampung Semada Belatok, had gone to the river for a bath at about 6.30pm on Wednesday when the five-metre-long crocodile struck. 'While I was having my bath the river seemed to be clear. Then suddenly, a crocodile bit my legs from under the calm water. I tried to prise open the crocodile's jaws but it would not let go. I then poked its eyes until it released me,' he said at the Sarawak General Hospital here where he was being treated for injuries to his hands and legs on Thursday.
Mr Mathias wrestled with the creature for about 10 minutes at Sungai Semada, Balai Ringin, near here before screaming for help.His wife Mira Dehim, who was cooking in their house near the river, heard him and rushed to his rescue. 'I ran to the river bank and was shocked to see him being attacked by the crocodile. I grabbed his hand and tried to pull him out. I thought he was going to die as the crocodile was so big,' she said, adding that this was the second such incident in the village. In 2008, a villager was attacked by a crocodile but survived with injuries to his hips, thighs and ribs. -- THE STAR/ANN
Home > Breaking News > SE Asia > Story
Jan 22, 2010
Villager fights off crocodile
KUCHING - A MALAYSIAN lorry driver survived a crocodile attack by poking the reptile in its eyes repeatedly when it refused to let go of him. Mr Mathias Winston, 37, from Kampung Semada Belatok, had gone to the river for a bath at about 6.30pm on Wednesday when the five-metre-long crocodile struck. 'While I was having my bath the river seemed to be clear. Then suddenly, a crocodile bit my legs from under the calm water. I tried to prise open the crocodile's jaws but it would not let go. I then poked its eyes until it released me,' he said at the Sarawak General Hospital here where he was being treated for injuries to his hands and legs on Thursday.
Mr Mathias wrestled with the creature for about 10 minutes at Sungai Semada, Balai Ringin, near here before screaming for help.His wife Mira Dehim, who was cooking in their house near the river, heard him and rushed to his rescue. 'I ran to the river bank and was shocked to see him being attacked by the crocodile. I grabbed his hand and tried to pull him out. I thought he was going to die as the crocodile was so big,' she said, adding that this was the second such incident in the village. In 2008, a villager was attacked by a crocodile but survived with injuries to his hips, thighs and ribs. -- THE STAR/ANN
