Man die of croc attack in Western Province

Officers of the Royal Solomon Island Police Force (RSIPF) in Noro and Munda have opened an inquiry file after a crocodile attacked a 36-year-old male person at Roviana lagoon on 27 September 2021.

The crocodile attack had happened when five people from Opele village went out to dive beche-de-mer at reefs nearby their village when the reptile grabbed the man and took him for at least two hours before other four boys fought the reptile.”

Provincial Police Commander (PPC) Western Province, Chief Superintendent Mathias Lenialu says, “He was drowned and could not be able to survive. He sustained several injuries on his body because of the attack.”

PPC Lenialu says, “Police have attended to the incident and opened an enquiry file to investigate the cause of the incident. Police destruction forms will be soon signed by the Chiefs and elders at Opele to allow the destruction of the reptiles.”

Chief Superintendent Lenialu says, “Now that the Solomon Island Government is lifting the beche-de-mer ban, it is a risk for our people to be involved in such activities during night times but I am urging communities and individuals to take extra precautionary measures whenever go out at night for diving beche-de-mer especially areas where crocodiles are frequently reported.”

Mr Lenialu says, “My condolences to the relatives of the deceased for the loss of their loved one and we pray during this time of bereavement.”

Officer Commanding Station (OCS) New Georgia, Inspector Robert Hickie says, “I am proposing to conduct a safety awareness program to the people in the Roviana lagoon and some safety guideline information to assist and manage the threat to the communities since similar cases like that add up to four since 2020.”