Crocodile Handler Dies After Being Dragged Into Pool During Feeding Demonstration as Witness Reveals His Haunting Final Words

A worker died after being dragged into the water by a crocodile at Adventure Park in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea.Chaicks Marn / Facebook

A crocodile handler died after a routine feeding demonstration at a wildlife park in Papua New Guinea turned into a desperate hour-long struggle in front of horrified visitors.

The worker was feeding a crocodile a chicken at Adventure Park in Port Moresby on Saturday afternoon when the animal suddenly grabbed his legs and attempted to pull him into the pool.

Disturbing footage from the scene shows the handler clinging desperately to the edge of the enclosure as people nearby scramble to help him.

He was eventually freed and rushed to hospital, but died from his injuries the following morning.

Routine feeding turns into desperate rescue

The employee had been trying to feed chicken to the crocodile.Chaicks Marn / Facebook

Witness Gibson John said the worker had approached the enclosure with a chicken when the crocodile suddenly attacked.

“He brought the chicken to the fence and the crocodile attacked the person and tried to bring him into the pool,” John said.

Video shows the handler gripping the side of the pool while a bystander offers him a pole to hold.

At another point, a person standing outside the enclosure can be seen holding onto the handler’s arms as efforts continue to pull him to safety.

A large crowd gathered around the enclosure as the emergency unfolded.

John said the crocodile held onto the man’s legs for more than an hour before he could finally be freed.

What struck the witness most, however, was how little the badly injured handler was able to say.

“He was in severe pain but he couldn’t scream. He couldn’t speak properly at that time. It was the pain I could see from his eyes,” John recalled.

Then came the only words John said he heard from the worker during the ordeal.

“I haven’t done anything wrong.”

Police reportedly intervened before handler was freed

As attempts to rescue the worker continued, visitors were moved away from the area.

Police reportedly shot the crocodile before rescuers were finally able to free the handler.

John said he was later told the worker, who came from the Western Islands in northern Papua New Guinea, had lost a leg.

St John Ambulance transported him to 3 Mile General Hospital for emergency treatment.

Despite efforts to save him, the handler died at around 7 a.m. on Sunday.

He had reportedly worked at Adventure Park for approximately two years.

Park closes following tragedy

A closing notice at Adventure Park.ABC News (Australia)

Adventure Park was subsequently closed to visitors until further notice.

A notice at the attraction informed members of the public that it would not be opening, while staff gathered at a funeral home on Sunday following their colleague’s death.

The park is known for its wildlife attractions and regularly stages crocodile-feeding demonstrations in which staff members interact closely with the animals.

Papua New Guinea’s official tourism website describes Adventure Park as a family attraction featuring wildlife, gardens, rides and outdoor activities.

The fatal incident has now put renewed attention on those demonstrations after footage of Saturday’s emergency circulated online.

Witness describes handler’s agonizing ordeal

Entrance sign for Adventure Park in Papua New Guinea.ABC News (Australia)

John’s account provides some of the most harrowing details of what happened beyond what can be seen in the footage.

Although the handler remained conscious as people attempted to save him, John said his pain appeared so severe that he was barely able to communicate.

The witness’s recollection that the man could not even scream — and managed only the words, “I haven’t done anything wrong” — has become one of the most haunting details to emerge from the tragedy.

For those watching at the park, what began as a familiar Saturday feeding demonstration had transformed within moments into a frantic rescue attempt.

The worker ultimately made it out of the enclosure alive and reached hospital, but his injuries proved fatal the following morning.

Adventure Park remains closed until further notice following the incident.