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Horror moment huge python drags man overboard before strangling him

Shocking footage has captured the moment a six-metre python quickly coiled around a man’s neck after dragging him overboard.

Horrifying footage has captured the moment a six-metre python dragged a tour guide underwater, just moments before coiling around his neck.

Experienced snake catcher, Heru, was travelling down a river on the island of Borneo in Indonesia, when his group noticed the large reptile resting close to the riverbank.

Footage shows Heru perched on the side of the boat before he reached into the dark water, grabbing the python near its head.

In a nightmare turn of events, the snake dragged Heru off the boat and into the water, where he disappeared under the surface.

The man can be seen flailing as the python approaches him. Picture: Viral Press
The man can be seen flailing as the python approaches him. Picture: Viral Press
Pythons are non-venomous constrictors known for ambushing their prey and wrapping around it to suffocate it. Picture: Viral Press
Pythons are non-venomous constrictors known for ambushing their prey and wrapping around it to suffocate it. Picture: Viral Press

After surfacing, he frantically flailed in the water while the python quickly started to wrap its body around his torso, before moving up to his arms and neck.

The remaining crew immediately jumped into action and attempted to wrestle the python from Heru’s neck as he became more restrained.

It took two men, one holding the python’s head and another its tail, to finally free the guide – who was miraculously left uninjured.

The snake was eventually captured and hauled onto the boat, where crew took photos with it before releasing it back into the wild.

Mohamad Alisa, who filmed the terrifying ordeal, said the python was the “biggest and strongest” the group had ever seen.

It took two men to wrangle the python. Picture: Viral Press
It took two men to wrangle the python. Picture: Viral Press
The man tried to play it calm while the snake restrained him. Picture: Viral Press
The man tried to play it calm while the snake restrained him. Picture: Viral Press

“It was released after. Our principle is not to harm living creatures,” he said.

“Photography is purely for scientific purposes.”

The incident comes just months after an Indonesian grandfather was found dead inside an 8.5 metre python.

La Noti, 61, was reportedly tending to livestock when he was attacked by the snake in Southeast Sulawesi, Indonesia.

A man in Indonesia was eaten by an 8.5 metre python earlier this year. Picture: Viral Press
A man in Indonesia was eaten by an 8.5 metre python earlier this year. Picture: Viral Press

The farmer was crushed and devoured by the reptile, and was later found by villagers who noticed the snake’s bloated stomach.

Pythons are non-venomous constrictors known for ambushing their prey and wrapping around it to suffocate it.

They are native to a variety of habitats such as swamps, forests and riverbanks, but often wander into residential areas in search of food.

Borneo, Indonesia, is home to several python species including the Borneo short-tailed python and the Reticulated python.

Originally published as Horror moment huge python drags man overboard before strangling him

Original URL: https://www.themercury.com.au/technology/science/horror-moment-huge-python-drags-man-overboard-before-strangling-him/news-story/04623dfb69e0f62565f04b11b1b35b8b