A heartbreaking tragedy struck a Malaysian village when a one-year-old boy was snatched and eaten by a crocodile while in a canoe with his father. The attack happened early Thursday near Lahad Datu in Sabah, as the father was fishing.

Desperate to save his son, the father fought the crocodile but was badly injured. Villagers pulled him from the water and rushed him to Lahad Datu Hospital. Rescue teams continue to search for the child’s body. “The father suffered serious head and body injuries,” confirmed local fire chief Sumsoa Rashid.

Authorities have urged residents to stay alert, warning the crocodile may still be nearby. Many villagers depend on the river for fishing, making encounters with dangerous wildlife a constant risk.

Crocodile attacks, though rare, often prove fatal and claim about 1,000 lives each year worldwide. This tragedy is a grim reminder of the hidden dangers in rivers where families earn their livelihood. Locals are urged to take extra care until the crocodile is found.