KOTA KINABALU: A woman succumbed to serious injuries in the hospital hours after a crocodile attack in Sabah’s northern Kota Marudu district.

       The incident occurred when the 66-year-old woman was fixing a water pump by the riverside with her grandchild at Sungai Bengkoka in Kampung Sinasak Batu, Pitas last Sunday.

       District police chief Supt Zairolnizal Ishak said the woman had gone with her granddaughter, aged nine, to the river at about 10am.

       While working on the pump, a crocodile was said to have suddenly lunged at the woman.

       He said the granddaughter told police that she was startled on hearing screams from the woman and a big splash in the water.

       “The girl then saw what looked like a crocodile attacking her grandmother,” he said when contacted.

       Supt Zairolnizal said with the help of villagers, the victim managed to free herself from the reptile not long after, before she was rushed to the Pitas district hospital for treatment.

       However, the woman was pronounced dead at 1.20pm.

       “A medical officer confirmed the victim had succumbed to serious head injuries caused by crocodile bites,” he said.

       He added the case has been classified as sudden death.

       Crocodile attacks are a somewhat common occurrence in Sabah, particularly in the northern and east coast areas of the state.