A Selfie That Nearly Cost His Life
We all love a good photo on vacation — but sometimes, the pursuit of the perfect selfie can go terribly wrong.
That’s exactly what happened to a 29-year-old man visiting a zoo in the Philippines, where he mistook a 15-foot crocodile named Lalay for a statue, and climbed into the enclosure to snap a selfie.
Ignore the Warnings... Face the Bite
According to reports from the New York Post and local sources, the man ignored multiple warnings from bystanders, who yelled at him to get out of the enclosure.
Still convinced it was just a lifelike sculpture, he approached the crocodile — camera in hand — and crouched down beside it.
Seconds later, Lalay sprang to life, clamping down on the man’s arm and then going straight for his thigh, performing the dreaded “death roll”, a brutal crocodile maneuver meant to tear prey apart.
30 Minutes of Horror
The attack lasted for a harrowing 30 minutes, during which the man remained trapped with the aggressive reptile refusing to let go.
Finally, the zoo’s crocodile handler rushed in and smashed Lalay’s head with a concrete block, forcing it to release its grip.
The injured man was rushed to the hospital, bleeding from multiple wounds and requiring over 50 stitches to save his life.
He Lived to Learn the Lesson
While doctors managed to stabilize him, zoo officials and police were quick to issue a stern warning to the public.
“This was incredibly reckless behavior,” said officer Joel Sajolga. “Entering an animal enclosure is dangerous — not just for you, but for everyone else. He’s lucky to be alive.”
The zoo has since increased security and added extra warning signs around high-risk areas.
The Takeaway: Think Before You Climb In
Let’s be honest — that selfie wasn’t worth it.
Here’s what to remember next time you’re at the zoo:
- Statues don’t blink
- Crocodiles don’t care about your Instagram
- No photo is worth your limbs
Stay safe, stay outside the enclosure, and maybe zoom in instead of climbing in.