Shaman vs crocodile: Attempt to charm reptile ends in grisly death [video]

shaman vs crocodile
The shaman pictured just moments before he disappeared underwater (screenshot from video below)

An Indonesian shaman who claimed to possess supernatural control over crocodiles was killed by one of the reptiles he was attempting to ‘charm’.

A man known only as Suprianto dived into crocodile-infested waters in East Kalimantan on Saturday (September 16) to look for the body of a man who had been killed by one of the beasts the day before.

However, just minutes after entering the waters of the Muara Jawa estuary he was dragged under the water and disappeared from view.

Neither his claim to be a ‘pawantg buaya’ (shaman with control over reptiles) nor his chanting of mantras proved to be any protection.

Speaking yesterday (Monday) local police chief Fadillah Zulkarnaen said: “We have recovered the two bodies on Sunday. The shaman was found floating in Muara Jawa at 9.40pm. His body is still whole.

“I think he was dragged by a croc under the water and then ran out of oxygen. From the pictures I’ve seen, his body is still intact, his arms and legs are still there.”

The other victim’s corpse was also said to be intact.

Shaman vs crocodile vs python vs puppies

Crocodiles can be found throughout Southeast Asia.

Earlier this month, we reported how an enormous 17ft saltwater crocodile was captured off Tawi-Tawi Island in the southern Philippines.

Then, last week, it was reported that a British journalist was killed by a crocodile in Sri Lanka while washing his hands in the sea.

However, crocodiles are not the only man-eaters in the region. In March we reported how a man in Sulawesi, Indonesia, was swallowed whole by a reticulated python.

shaman vs crocodile
The body of an Indonesian farmer after being cut from the belly of a python

While no python deaths have been reported in the Philippines, last month we reported how a man from Cebu discovered a 20ft snake in his house after the mysterious disappearance of a litter of puppies.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hc5eotgXX3Y