Family heartbroken as drone captures crocodile swimming down river with their pet dog in its mouth

A family has been left heartbroken after a crocodile was spotted swimming down a river while carrying their pet dog in its mouth.

Minco de Bruin captured shocking drone footage of the heartbreaking moment.

He was sitting in his van at the river’s edge when he heard a large splash and spotted a giant tail sticking out of the water.

Minco pulled out his drone but did not realise that the four-metre-long reptile had a dog in its mouth until he reviewed the footage closer.

The pooch turned out to be a one-year-old Rottweiler puppy named Nigel.

The dog’s owners tragically found out about the attack after seeing a video on Facebook of the animal swimming away with their beloved pet.

The incident took place on 13 January on the Fitzroy River in Rockhampton, Queensland, Australia.

(Jam Press/@mincodrums)

Minco, who shot the footage, was visiting from Belgium.

The family believed that Nigel was attacked in front of their home in Port Curtis but had not realised what had actually taken place.

Queensland’s Department of Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation is also aware of the video, as reported by Need To Know.

The government department is urging both locals and visitors in the region to be “crocwise”.

“Crocs are apex predators that use ambush tactics, such as lying and waiting at the water’s edge, to capture their prey,” they said in a statement.

“Just because you can’t see a croc, doesn’t mean there isn’t one close by.

“Be Crocwise aims to encourage residents and visitors in Croc Country to adopt Be Crocwise behaviours before visiting the water, and when they’re around the water, to reduce their risk of a crocodile attack.”

This includes keeping out of the water and staying at least five metres away from the river’s edge.

The department also advises being extra cautious at night, dusk and dawn, keeping pets on leads when by water and ensuring children are always supervised.