A crocodile handler has died after being dragged into a pool during a feeding demonstration at a wildlife park in Papua New Guinea, with horrifying video showing the worker desperately clinging to the edge as the animal held onto his legs.

The fatal attack happened Saturday afternoon at Adventure Park in Port Moresby, the capital of Papua New Guinea.

The worker was inside a fenced crocodile enclosure when the animal suddenly attacked as he attempted to feed it a chicken. Witnesses said the crocodile seized his legs and pulled him into the water.

Crocodile Held Worker for More Than an Hour
Disturbing footage shared on social media appeared to show the handler gripping the side of the pool while the crocodile remained attached to his legs.

Bystanders gathered around the enclosure and tried to help. One person passed the injured worker a pole through the fence, while another later appeared to support him from the edge of the pool.

Eyewitness Gibson John told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation that the crocodile held the man’s legs for more than an hour before emergency services arrived.

“He was in severe pain, but he couldn’t scream,” John said.

The witness said the injured man struggled to speak and that the only words he could clearly hear were: “I haven’t done anything wrong.”

Police Shot the Crocodile to Free Him
With the worker still trapped, police reportedly shot the crocodile so he could be freed.

John said he was later told the man had lost a leg before being transported to 3 Mile General Hospital by ambulance.

Despite emergency treatment, the worker died from his injuries at about 7 a.m. Sunday, according to ABC.

His identity has not been publicly released.

The man was reportedly from the Western Islands region of northern Papua New Guinea and had worked at Adventure Park for approximately two years.

Adventure Park Closed After Fatal Attack
Adventure Park regularly conducts crocodile feeding demonstrations in which staff interact closely with the animals.

Following the fatal attack, the park was closed until further notice as employees gathered to mourn their colleague and prepare for his funeral.

The incident has also drawn attention to the risks faced by wildlife workers who interact with large predators during feeding demonstrations.

For the people who witnessed the attack, the scene was especially traumatic: a routine feeding activity suddenly turned into a desperate fight for survival, with rescuers unable to immediately free the trapped worker.

The investigation into the circumstances surrounding the attack remains ongoing.

Course: NY Post