Croc kills man whilst on beche-de-mer diving trip

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A man was attacked and killed by a crocodile whilst diving for bechedemer in the Western Province on Monday this week.

The government only lifted the ban on bechedemer also known as sea-cucumber on September 1.

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A RSIPF Media release today says that officers of the Royal Solomon Island Police Force (RSIPF) in Noro and Munda have opened an inquiry file after a crocodile attacked a 36-year-old male person at Roviana lagoon on 27 September.

The incident happened when five people from Opele village went out to dive beche-de-mer in a reef nearby their village when the crocdile grabbed the deceased and took him for at least two hours. It only released him after four boys fought the reptile.

Provincial Police Commander (PPC) Western Province, Chief Superintendent Mathias Lenialu said the man drowned and could not be able to survive after sustaining several injuries on his body as a result of the attack.

Lenialu confirmed that police had attended to the incident and opened an enquiry file to investigate the cause of the incident.

Police destruction forms will be soon signed by the Chiefs and elders at Opele to allow the destruction of the reptiles in the area.

Lenialu said now that the Solomon Island Government had lifted the beche-de-mer ban he has urged communities and individuals to take extra precautionary measures whenever go out at night for diving beche-de-mer especially in areas where crocodiles are frequently reported.

Officer Commanding Station (OCS) New Georgia, Inspector Robert Hickie says, “I am proposing to conduct a safety awareness program to the people in the Roviana lagoon and some safety guideline information to assist and manage the threat to the communities since similar cases like that add up to four since 2020.”

Lenialu sends condolence to the relatives of the deceased for the loss of their loved one.

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