A furious crocodile snapped back at its trainer, biting his arm in front of dozens of spectators at a show in Northern Thailand.
The reptile handler was performing the stunt at the Phokkathara zoo in front of around 100 people.
As the bandana-wearing zoo-keeper reached inside the animal’s jaws, he began pushing deeper down the crocodile’s throat.
But the reptile struck back – suddenly clamping its teeth around the man’s forearm, before shaking him violently from side to side.
The performer was heard letting out an agonising howl before freeing himself and staggering away with blood dripping on the wet tiles.
The scene was captured by Khun Phusawit, who had been visiting the zoo’s crocodile farm with wife Nok and their two children.
Mr Phusawit said: “The show was very good until that happened. I hope that the man is OK and he gets better soon. Everybody was shocked when it happened. The kids were a little bit scared.
A worker holds young crocodiles at Sri Ayuthaya Crocodile Farm
Reuters
A crocodile is seen at Sriracha Tiger Zoo in Chonburi province
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Workers feed crocodiles at Sri Ayuthaya crocodile farm
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Dyed crocodile skins are displayed at Sriracha Crocodile Farm
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A crocodile eats a chicken head at Sriracha Tiger Zoo in Chonburi province
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A crocodile is seen at Sriracha Tiger Zoo
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A crocodile is seen at Sriracha Tiger Zoo
Reuters
A zoo performer reacts as he puts his head between the jaws of a crocodile during a performance for tourists at Sriracha Tiger Zoo, in Chonburi province
Reuters
Crocodiles are seen at Sri Ayuthaya Crocodile Farm
Reuters
A worker polishes a wallet made from crocodile skin at Sri Ayuthaya Crocodile farm
Reuters
Crocodiles are seen at Sri Ayuthaya Crocodile Farm
Reuters
Dyed crocodile skin is seen at a tannery in Samut Prakan province
Reuters
A zoo worker places crocodile eggs inside a hatchery at Sriracha Tiger Zoo in Chonburi province
Reuters
A worker collects crocodile eggs at Sri Ayuthaya Crocodile Farm
Reuters
Workers catch young crocodiles and put them into sacks at Sri Ayuthaya Crocodile Farm in Ayutthaya province
Reuters
Newly-hatched crocodiles are seen in a basin at Sriracha Crocodile Farm
Reuters
A worker helps a baby crocodile out of its shell at Sriracha Crocodile Farm
Reuters
Newly-hatched crocodiles are seen at Sriracha Crocodile Farm
Reuters
Workers spray coating colour on dyed crocodile skins at a crocodile leather tannery in Samut Prakan province
Reuters
Dyed crocodile skins hang at a crocodile leather tannery in Samut Prakan province
Reuters
Chinese tourists touch a dyed crocodile skin at Sriracha Crocodile Farm
Reuters
A Chinese tourist tries on a jacket made from crocodile skin at Sriracha Crocodile Farm
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Workers process crocodile meat at a slaughterhouse on the outskirts of Bangkok
Reuters
Crocodiles are seen at Sri Ayuthaya Crocodile Farm in Ayutthaya province
Reuters
Workers prepare dyed crocodile skins at Sriracha Crocodile Farm in Chonburi province, Thailand
Reuters
A worker holds young crocodiles at Sri Ayuthaya Crocodile Farm
Reuters
A crocodile is seen at Sriracha Tiger Zoo in Chonburi province
Reuters
Workers feed crocodiles at Sri Ayuthaya crocodile farm
Reuters
Dyed crocodile skins are displayed at Sriracha Crocodile Farm
Reuters
A crocodile eats a chicken head at Sriracha Tiger Zoo in Chonburi province
Reuters
A crocodile is seen at Sriracha Tiger Zoo
Reuters
A crocodile is seen at Sriracha Tiger Zoo
Reuters
A zoo performer reacts as he puts his head between the jaws of a crocodile during a performance for tourists at Sriracha Tiger Zoo, in Chonburi province
Reuters
Crocodiles are seen at Sri Ayuthaya Crocodile Farm
Reuters
A worker polishes a wallet made from crocodile skin at Sri Ayuthaya Crocodile farm
Reuters
Crocodiles are seen at Sri Ayuthaya Crocodile Farm
Reuters
Dyed crocodile skin is seen at a tannery in Samut Prakan province
Reuters
A zoo worker places crocodile eggs inside a hatchery at Sriracha Tiger Zoo in Chonburi province
Reuters
A worker collects crocodile eggs at Sri Ayuthaya Crocodile Farm
Reuters
Workers catch young crocodiles and put them into sacks at Sri Ayuthaya Crocodile Farm in Ayutthaya province
Reuters
Newly-hatched crocodiles are seen in a basin at Sriracha Crocodile Farm
Reuters
A worker helps a baby crocodile out of its shell at Sriracha Crocodile Farm
Reuters
Newly-hatched crocodiles are seen at Sriracha Crocodile Farm
Reuters
Workers spray coating colour on dyed crocodile skins at a crocodile leather tannery in Samut Prakan province
Reuters
Dyed crocodile skins hang at a crocodile leather tannery in Samut Prakan province
Reuters
Chinese tourists touch a dyed crocodile skin at Sriracha Crocodile Farm
Reuters
A Chinese tourist tries on a jacket made from crocodile skin at Sriracha Crocodile Farm
Reuters
Workers process crocodile meat at a slaughterhouse on the outskirts of Bangkok
Reuters
Crocodiles are seen at Sri Ayuthaya Crocodile Farm in Ayutthaya province
Reuters
Workers prepare dyed crocodile skins at Sriracha Crocodile Farm in Chonburi province, Thailand
Reuters
“I’ve watched the clip back many times to see how it happened and the crocodile seems to not like having the hand in his mouth.”
The owner of the crocodile park, Dong Wittawat, said: “The performer is fine. He was was treated at the farm with bandaging. He loves crocodiles and he will be working again soon in the next two weeks. It is very rare for this to happen.”
Viral Press