This is the horrifying moment a crocodile trapped in a fishing net was beaten to death with a claw hammer.

The 10ft long male saltwater croc had been swimming across an estuary off the coast of Borneo when it became tangled in the net from local fisherman.

When the men pulled it ashore, the beast was still entwined in the rope. It began thrashing around in the shallows as they dragged it onto the sand.

Shockingly, instead of calling the local wildlife officials to rescue the crocodile, they battered it to death with a metal claw hammer before leaving it to die.

Disturbing footage shows blood pouring from the reptile's mouth as it writhes around in agony.

Authorities are now investigating the incident which is believed to have happened off the coast of the Sarawak region earlier this week.

Susan Yek, from the Sarawak Forestry Corporation (SFC), said: ''Officials from the department are investigating the case. We are trying to determine the exact location that it happened.''

Mrs Yek said that officials have been sent to the area around the coastal city of Miri after intelligence suggested it happened there.

She added: ''We have sent our enforcement team to the ground in Miri to check on the details as shown in the video.''

Crocodiles are not protected species in Borneo so culling them is allowed. However, killing them in the wild could lead to charges of animal cruelty.

Miri Nature Society (MNS) chairperson Musa Musbah said the crocodile was crossing an estuary during a high tide caused by the new moon while looking for mates. It then became tangled in the net