Tourist posing for selfie attacked by crocodile after mistaking it for statue
A tourist was attacked by a crocodile after mistaking it for a plastic model and climbing into its pool to pose for selfies.
Nehemias Chipada, 68, spotted the reptile while he was visiting a theme park to celebrate his birthday with his family in Misamis Oriental province in the Philippines on November 10.
He believed the crocodile was a life-like model and posed for pictures – holding his phone in his right hand while his left hand dangled by his waist.
However, the light-hearted moment with his family watching took a savage turn when the 12 foot-long croc lunged at his arm and dragged him into the water at Amaya View amusement park in Cagayan de Oro City.
Dramatic footage shows Nehemias screaming for help as the massive reptile sank its teeth into his left arm.
He somehow managed to break away and run with his limbs still intact before he was treated and taken to hospital.
After the attack, Nehemias – who survived – and his family blamed the amusement park for not putting up signs warning them to stay away from the deadly reptile.
"There were no advisories warning us not to enter the enclosure. Because if there were, we would never have gone there," Nehemias's daughter, Mercy Joy Chipada, said.
Resort staff tightly wound handkerchiefs around Nehemias's arms and hands to stem the bleeding, after which he was sent to the Northern Mindanao Medical Centre for treatment.
Examinations found he had sustained fractured bones and eight wounds that needed stitching on his left arm and thigh.
A three-inch crocodile tooth had also been lodged in his flesh from the force of the bite.
Multiple surgeries were needed to fix his broken bones.
"I was looking at the lovely scenery around the park when the incident happened," onlooker Rogelio Pamisa Antiga who filmed the video said.
"I heard people screaming for help and saw the crocodile manhandling the old man. I thought it would bite off his arm.
"I wanted to help him, but I was scared and had no knowledge of how to deal with a crocodile attack."
The amusement park agreed to shoulder the costs of Nehemias's treatment, but denied that they were negligent in warning tourists about the dangerous animal.
"We deny the allegation that we have been negligent," Amaya View Chief Operating Officer Candy Unabia said.
"They said they thought the crocodile was also artificial, but that area is actually restricted. There are signages and constant reminders from our tour guides."
ViralPress/Australscope
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