KOTA KINABALU: The remains of an angler who was attacked by a crocodile have been found after a three-day search in Sabah’s east coast Semporna district.

State Fire and Rescue Department assistant director of operations Misran Bisara said the victim, Azman Tugau, was found by villagers at 5pm on Monday (Aug 22).

He said a cousin of the 35-year-old victim had earlier reported to the authorities that the latter was mauled by a crocodile while they were fishing at Sungai Pegagau at 3pm on Sunday (Aug 21).

Rescuers from the department immediately launched a search the same day, he added.

“The team continued the search at 7.45am on Tuesday (Aug 23) after failing to locate the victim in the first two days of the operation.

“However, they received word from the Semporna police that villagers had actually found the body at 5pm on Monday, not far from where the victim was reported to have gone missing,” Misran said when contacted on Tuesday.

He added that the body has since been handed over to the police by the villagers.

Azman and his cousin were fishing at the riverbank when he was snatched by the reptile while the latter managed to flee.