Boy, 12, killed by crocodile in front of uncle while washing hands in river

A 12-year-old boy was tragically mauled to death by a crocodile in front of his uncle as they washed their hands in a river.

Shocking footage shows the reptile thrashing the child in the water while clamping him between its jaws.

Horrified witnesses looked on as the attack unfolded in Baundi, in India’s Uttar Pradesh state, at around 6pm yesterday (16 July).

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The boy, Sunil, had accompanied his uncle to a paddy field that afternoon to help plant rice seedlings.

After working for three to four hours, they made their way home to Tikuri, stopping at the Ghaghara River on the way to wash their hands and feet.

While they were washing, the crocodile suddenly emerged from the river, seized Sunil by the leg and dragged him into the water.

He desperately struggled to free himself as his uncle, Vijay Raj Singh, raised the alarm.

Alerted by his cries for help, farmers and villagers rushed to the scene and threw bricks, stones and sticks at the reptile in a bid to make it release Sunil.

However, the crocodile repeatedly thrashed him in the river before dragging him into deeper water and disappearing from sight.

Locals launched a desperate search using long bamboo poles, as reported by Need To Know.

They eventually located Sunil and recovered his body from the water at around 10pm.

Authorities said his right leg and abdomen had been partially eaten.

The schoolboy, who had lost both his parents several years earlier, is survived by a brother and two sisters.

State authorities will reportedly compensate his remaining family with 400,000 INR (£3,091) following his death.

Residents of villages along the Ghaghara River rely on the waterway for daily activities despite the presence of crocodiles.

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