Crocodile snatches 85-year-old man in Dedza

Fears are mounting in Dedza after an 85-year-old man, Legi Million, was reportedly snatched by a crocodile in the Linthipe River on Tuesday afternoon.

The victim, a resident of Kuchingoli Village, Group Village Headman Kasina under Traditional Authority Kaphuka, had gone to the riverbanks to cut reeds (bango) for weaving mats.

Village Head Chiweta confirmed the harrowing incident to Zodiak Online, stating that while Million was busy harvesting the reeds, a crocodile lunged from the water and dragged him under.

Despite the efforts of local youth and skilled swimmers who launched a search and rescue operation immediately after the alarm was raised, the elderly man remains missing.

“Our young men have been in and out of the water trying to locate him, but there has been no sign of him up to this point,” said Chiweta.

This tragic event marks the third crocodile attack recorded in the Linthipe River since the beginning of this year, sparking fear among villagers who rely on the river for their livelihoods.

Community leaders have since appealed to the Department of Parks and Wildlife to intervene and manage the increasing number of predators in the river to prevent further loss of life.

Source:Zodiak Online