Man, 25, dragged into river by crocodile and never seen again as terrified friends watch

CCTV footage captured the chilling moment an Indonesian man was dragged underwater by a lurking crocodile.

The harrowing incident was captured by CCTV footage in the early morning hours of July 6.

In it, two men were already in the river, and the victim, Ipan Nurzaman, 25, dove in to join his friends.

The three repaired a damaged boat at a pier in Banyuasin Regency, South Sumatra.

Nurzaman could be seen entering the water as his two friends waited, unaware that a crocodile was lurking mere feet away.

Nurzaman was paddling toward his friends before the footage cuts over the moment he was dragged underwater by the reptile.

The young man’s friends could then be seen swimming into frame and calling out his name, concerned by his silence.

They climbed out of the river to check nearby boats but found no sign of the missing worker, except for the slippers he had left on the wooden bridge.

Senior Commissioner Nandang Mukmin Wijaya, head of Public Relations of the South Sumatra Regional Police, said a search is underway for Nuzaman.

He said, “Search efforts are currently underway involving personnel from relevant agencies, assisted by residents. We hope the victim will be found soon.

All personnel in the field have been instructed to maximize the search efforts while prioritizing their own safety, due to the crocodile still being in the river nearby.”

The public, especially those working in river, swamp, and coastal areas, should always pay attention to safety factors and avoid solo activities at night in locations prone to wildlife.”

Officials believe Nurzaman was attacked by the crocodile.