A fisherman was found dead covered in bite marks from a crocodile attack in Malaysia.

David Gira, 49, left his home to hunt fish for dinner in the Sungai Nyigu river in Sarawak state, on February 18 evening.

He parked his motorbike near the riverbank and waded into the murky water - only to be mauled by a large crocodile lying in wait. The shocked resident was overpowered by the beast and dragged further into the river.

Authorities launched a search for David after his wife reported him missing when he failed to return home that night.

Volunteers, firefighters, and rescue officers arrived at the scene and found the husband's two-wheeler still in the area. They combed the river overnight but still failed to locate him.

As rescuers continued to scour the waters, David's bite-riddled body resurfaced the next morning, February 19, some two kilometres downstream from where he had left his motorcycle.

The body has been positively identified by his family and was handed over to the Bintulu Hospital Forensic Unit for further action.

A spokesman for the state fire and rescue department said: 'The victim is believed to have been attacked by a crocodile while fishing on the banks of the Sungai Nyigu because there were bite marks on his body.'

Crocodile attacks in Malaysia, especially in the states of Sarawak and Sabah, occur primarily in rivers and coastal areas where saltwater crocodiles are prevalent.

These attacks often involve fishermen, villagers, or tourists near crocodile habitats. Due to the rising human-wildlife conflict, the government has implemented measures like awareness campaigns and occasional culling to manage the crocodile population and reduce attacks.

On September 18, Malaysian schoolgirl Cicilia Julan Intik, 6, was dragged away by a crocodile while bathing in a river on Bintulu Island. She was splashing around with her family nearby when the predator snapped her up and pulled her deeper into the water.

Wildlife officers said they have found what are believed to be the youngster's remains - including teeth and bones - inside a croc caught from the river on September 27.