A wildlife worker has died after being attacked by a crocodile at the Adventure Park in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea.

The handler was feeding the animal inside its enclosure on Saturday 5th September when the crocodile reportedly dragged him into the water.

PNG Police and St John Ambulance attended the park, with officers shooting the crocodile to free the worker. He was transported to 3 Mile General Hospital but died from his injuries at 7am on Sunday.

Eyewitness Gibson John told the ABC that visitors and park employees had been unable to free the handler before emergency services arrived.

John stated “he brought the chicken to the fence and the crocodile attacked the person and tried to bring him into the pool.

“We couldn’t assist at that time, but I managed to contact the St John Ambulance.”

John said the worker remained conscious during the incident, adding “he was in severe pain but he couldn’t scream.

“He couldn’t speak properly at that time. It was the pain I could see from his eyes.”

The employee, who was reportedly from PNG’s Western Islands, had worked at Adventure Park for about two years.

The attraction regularly conducts crocodile-feeding demonstrations involving close interaction between handlers and the animals.

Adventure Park has been closed until further notice, with employees gathering to prepare for the worker’s funeral.

Details of any formal investigation or review of the park’s animal-handling procedures have not yet been released.