PORT MORESBY, Papua New Guinea — A crocodile handler at Adventure Park has died after a feeding-time attack left him trapped in the animal’s jaws for more than an hour, according to an eyewitness who watched bystanders struggle to help as emergency crews raced to the Port Moresby wildlife attraction.
This is why you NEVER underestimate a crocodile. 🐊😨
— Thegrandmaboy (@TheGrandmaBoy) September 5, 2026
A crocodile handler was attacked during a demonstration at Adventure Park in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea.
The crocodile suddenly grabbed the handler’s leg and dragged him into the water as onlookers rushed to help.… pic.twitter.com/LIJqA4bZX7
The worker was attacked on Saturday, September 5, while inside the crocodile enclosure. He survived the initial ordeal and was taken to 3 Mile General Hospital, but died from his injuries at about 7 a.m. on Sunday. The park has since closed until further notice.
The fatal incident has shifted attention from the disturbing footage circulating online to broader questions about how the attack unfolded, the length of the rescue effort and the safety procedures used during crocodile feeding demonstrations.
Crocodile attacked handler during feeding
Eyewitness Gibson John said the worker had brought chicken to the enclosure and was attempting to feed the crocodile when the animal attacked.
The crocodile then tried to pull the handler into the pool, according to John’s account.
Video shared on social media appeared to show the man clinging to the edge of the water while the crocodile maintained a grip on his legs. A crowd gathered outside the enclosure as people searched for a way to assist him without exposing themselves to the animal.
One bystander offered the worker a pole through the fence. Another person later appeared to support him from the edge of the pool while rescuers were awaited.
Witness describes an ordeal lasting more than an hour
John told ABC News that the crocodile kept hold of the man’s legs for more than an hour before emergency services arrived.
He said he contacted St John Ambulance after people at the scene were unable to free the worker.
According to John, security guards did not have firearms available and instead gave the injured handler a small iron rod while police and ambulance crews were on their way.
The witness said the man was in severe pain and having difficulty speaking. He recalled the handler saying, “I haven’t done anything wrong” during the ordeal.
Police shot crocodile during rescue effort
Police and St John Ambulance later arrived at Adventure Park as efforts continued to separate the crocodile from the handler.
The crocodile was reportedly shot so the worker could be freed. Emergency personnel then treated him before he was transported to 3 Mile General Hospital.
The animal was therefore killed during the rescue operation, rather than after the handler’s death.
Worker died at hospital on Sunday morning
Initial reports on Saturday described the worker as seriously injured but did not establish whether he would survive.
By Sunday, authorities had confirmed that the handler had died from his injuries at approximately 7 a.m. on September 6.
John also said he was later told that the worker had lost a leg. That detail has been reported through the eyewitness account and has not been independently confirmed in a publicly released hospital statement.
Handler had reportedly worked at Adventure Park for two years
The man’s name had not been publicly released in the confirmed reporting available on Sunday.
He was reportedly from the Western Islands in northern Papua New Guinea and was understood to have worked at Adventure Park for about two years.
Unverified names circulating on social media should therefore be treated cautiously unless the victim’s family, police or park management formally confirms his identity.
Adventure Park closes after fatal attack
Visitors were ushered out after the incident, and Adventure Park has since been closed until further notice.
Staff members who witnessed the attack were reportedly gathering at a funeral home on Sunday following their colleague’s death. No reopening date has been announced.
The immediate closure reflects the impact on employees as well as visitors who witnessed the emergency. Serious incidents can leave organisations facing questions not only about how an accident occurred, but also about whether emergency plans were sufficient for a fast-moving crisis.
Emergency preparedness has also become a central issue in other recent tragedies, including the Burning Man 2026 death and severe weather disruption, where difficult conditions complicated movement and access at the event.
Close-contact crocodile demonstrations face scrutiny
Adventure Park regularly conducts crocodile feeding demonstrations in which staff work close to the reptiles.
Earlier footage from the attraction has shown employees interacting closely with crocodiles, although it has not been established that the handler killed in Saturday’s attack was the employee appearing in those previous recordings.
That distinction matters. Earlier footage does not establish how the fatal incident occurred, whether normal procedures were being followed or whether any individual action contributed to the attack.
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Hour-long rescue raises key safety questions
The eyewitness account that the worker remained trapped for more than an hour is likely to become one of the central issues surrounding the incident.
Among the unanswered questions are what emergency equipment was immediately available, how staff were trained to respond to a crocodile attack and whether there was a specific procedure for quickly separating an animal from an injured handler.
Similar questions about response time and access to help can become crucial after fatal emergencies, including the circumstances surrounding the death of Tashi Sherpa at Manaslu Base Camp.
No official finding has established negligence, misconduct or a breach of safety procedures at Adventure Park. Those conclusions should not be drawn without evidence from investigators or park management.
Investigation may determine whether procedures change
Authorities have not yet publicly explained precisely how the crocodile was able to seize the worker, how far inside the enclosure he was or whether his position was part of the park’s normal feeding routine.
It is also unclear whether workplace or wildlife authorities will conduct a formal investigation, whether emergency procedures will be reviewed or whether crocodile feeding demonstrations will resume in their previous form.
For now, Adventure Park remains closed as staff mourn their colleague, while the handler’s death leaves his family and the wider Port Moresby community waiting for clearer answers about how a routine feeding demonstration became fatal.
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