A schoolboy was killed by a crocodile while setting a fishing net in Malaysia.

Arif Fahmi Aiman Mohammad Tinggal, 12, was alone on his boat as he cast the fishing equipment into a river in Sarawak on September 18.

Unaware of the danger lurking nearby, the youngster leaned into the Sungai Kampung Empila river, only to be snatched by a crocodile.

He screamed as he flailed in the water, alerting another fisherman nearby but the boy was dragged under the surface before the villager could reach him.

Emergency services arrived at the scene after being alerted to the crocodile attack at 7:53 am local time.

The Sarawak Fire and Rescue Department said the schoolboy's body was collected two hours later, around 33ft (10 metres) from where he disappeared. He had bite marks on his torso and chest and was found floating face-down in the murky brown water.

A fire department spokesman said: 'The witness heard the victim screaming and, upon looking towards the direction of the sound, discovered that the boy had disappeared. The witness immediately went to the location and searched for the boy before contacting the emergency line.

'The victim was later found by the fire and rescue team at 9.50am with chest injuries caused by a crocodile bite. The body was subsequently handed over to the police for further action.'

Aiman's father Mohammad Tinggal Ali, 52, said fishing was one of his son's favourite pastimes.

He said: 'If his mother asked him to go buy rice or anything else, he would follow. But when we forbade him from going to the river to fish, there was no stopping him because it was his hobby.'

The father-of-three added that Aiman had befriended other fishermen in the area, and would often sell his catch for pocket money at school.

Crocodile attacks remain a persistent threat in Sarawak, especially along rivers and estuaries where saltwater crocodiles are widespread. The state has some of Malaysia's highest rates of crocodile encounters, usually involving fishermen or villagers bathing on riverbanks.

Authorities have tried to reduce casualties with periodic culls, warning signs and public awareness campaigns.