A 26-year-old man has survived a terrifying crocodile attack at Halmillagollawewa tank in Madagalla, Polpithigama, Sri Lanka, after returning to the water to retrieve a bar of soap he had left behind.
Ratnayake Mudiyanselage Nilanga Nilupul Ratnayaka suffered severe injuries to his neck, back, shoulders, feet and limbs in the attack.
He is being treated at Kurunegala Teaching Hospital, where he was scheduled to undergo surgery, according to Daily Mirror.
Ratnayaka said he had gone to the tank for his regular evening bath after finishing work. As darkness approached, he was alone at the location.
After completing his bath, he returned to the tank bund to get dressed but later realized that he had left his soap near the water. When he went back down the steps to collect it, a crocodile suddenly seized his foot and pulled him into the water.
Despite the attack, Ratnayaka managed to hold onto the steps and fought to escape the animal’s grip. The crocodile then attacked his shoulder, but he made a desperate attempt to defend himself by placing his hand inside its mouth. He eventually managed to break free.
Badly injured but still conscious, Ratnayaka climbed onto the tank bund and made his way home on his motorcycle. He said the crocodile had torn away part of the flesh on his back, but he was still able to ride to safety.
He was initially taken to Polpithigama Base Hospital before being transferred to Kurunegala Teaching Hospital for further treatment.
Local residents say a large crocodile, estimated to be around 13 feet long, has been repeatedly spotted around the tank bund. They also claim the animal has ventured into nearby home gardens and attacked dogs and other domestic animals.
Residents are now calling on wildlife authorities to intervene urgently, capture the crocodile and relocate it to an appropriate forest habitat. They fear another encounter could result in more serious injuries or loss of life if action is not taken.
