Kupi Rapura had been working at the Adventure Park in Port Moresby, the capital of Papua New Guinea, for two years.
On Saturday, September 5, 2026, he entered an enclosure to feed a crocodile chicken, a task he had done dozens of times.
This time, the animal grabbed him by the legs and would not let go. According to witness Gibson John, Kupi clung to the edge of the pool while the reptile held him trapped underwater for more than an hour.
The pain was so intense that he could not even scream. Other workers tried to help him by passing a metal pole through the fence and holding him by the arms, but the crocodile would not let go.
The police eventually shot the animal to free him. Kupi was taken by ambulance to 3 Mile General Hospital, but he had already lost one leg.
He died from his injuries on Sunday, September 6, at 7:00 in the morning. The park has remained closed ever since.