A fisherman had his right hand torn off in a crocodile attack at night.
Audías Ramírez said he went into the lake for a swim despite knowing crocs live in it.
He tried to pull his arm out of the reptile’s mouth, but was overpowered and dragged under the water.
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Fearing the worst, he said he somehow managed to regain his strength to launch one last attack on the crocodile.
He beat off the large reptile and managed to scramble to safety.
However, the crocodile had chomped off most of his right hand.
He explained from his hospital bed: “I went into the lake at night because I knew those animals run away when you look at them.
“That’s why I was so confident.
“But when I was swimming, I felt something grab my arm.”
Ramírez staggered from Lake Petén Itzá, located in northern Guatemala, and made his way to a nearby hospital.
Doctors had to amputate just below the wrist on his right arm, as reported by Need To Know.
Ramírez said he wanted to warn others about the dangers of venturing into the lake.
He said he never had any problems swimming there at night in the past, but has now changed his opinion.
He explained: “It’s good for people to know that they shouldn’t even swim there during the day because the crocs are fast and they will grab you.
“They have started attacking people there.”
Locals captured a crocodile they claimed was the one responsible for biting off the fisherman’s hand.
Footage shows the group restraining the animal with ropes at the water’s edge.
The village of El Remate, situated on the eastern tip of Lake Petén Itzá, is a popular tourist destination with a golden beach and crystal clear waters.
The village is located on the only road leading from the town of Flores to the major Mayan archaeological site of Tikal.
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