A seven-year-old boy has been left fighting for his life after a crocodile ripped off his arm while he was playing in shallow water during a fishing trip.
The incident took place at the Roodekoppies Dam, located on Crocodile River, near the town of Brits, in North West Province, in South Africa, on Friday March 21.
Young Johandre Blom was reportedly playing in the water with his pal Dylan just a few feet from where their parents were fishing when he was attacked by the large reptile.
The victim’s father, Corne, was about 25 metres away from the caravan where he was sitting with Dylan’s father, Jannie Bekker.
Speaking to local media, Bekker described how he suddenly heard his little boy Dylan scream.
‘I saw him grab Johandre by the arm, but there was a big jerk and then Johandre was away from Dylan.
‘Dylan shouted, “there’s a crocodile here”, and Corne and I immediately ran to the water.’
Johandre was thrown around by the crocodile in its powerful jaws before his father and Bekker reached the water and managed to pull him free, but the little boy’s left arm had been ripped off.
Johandre Blom, 7, from South Africa, has been left fighting for his life after a crocodile ripped his arm off
The incident took place last week while Johandre played in a croc-infested river with his friend. He was airlifted to hospital and placed in an induced coma, where he is said to be in a stable condition
Stock image showing a crocodile. It is currently unclear if the crocodile which attacked Johandre had been neutralised
They applied towels to the wound before rushing him to hospital by car, where medics managed to stabilise Johandre.
He was then flown by helicopter to hospital in Alberton, where he was reportedly placed in an induced coma and is currently in stable condition.
The young boy’s family have started a fundraiser on BackaBuddy Fund to raise cash to go towards Johandre’s rehabilitation and medical bills.
Bekker said that after the attack, a boat was deployed to see if they could see Johandre’s arm in the water but there was no sign of it.
The crocodile was however spotted in the grass near the bank and that it pestered the boat and also bothered people at a resort that evening.
It is currently unclear if the crocodile has been neutralised.
Johandre Blom, seven, poses in an undated photo
South African media said that netizens were mortified by the incident, with many criticising the family for not being careful enough in the habitat of such a dangerous predator.
One local said: ‘I’m sorry about this, and it’s a tragic accident, but the crocodile is doing what he would do naturally anywhere.’
Another said: ‘Everyone knows there are crocodiles. There are warning signs throughout the area.’