This is the dramatic moment police saved a mother who was attacked by a crocodile in a reservoir in Indonesia.

Theresa Padiang, 61, entered the restricted area to collect grass for her cattle in Tarakan City, North Kalimantan province, on January 19.

She was plucking undergrowth near the pond when a 10ft crocodile emerged and latched onto her right leg and tried to drag her into the water.

The heavily built housewife screamed as the beast fractured her leg bone while doing its 'death roll'. Her cries for help were heard by police who were training in the area.

They rushed over and prised the reptile off the crying villager. They then pulled the injured Theresa out of the water as more personnel arrived to carry her to safety.

Footage shows officers breaking down a fence before loading Theresa, seen groaning in pain, into a waiting van. She was rushed to the Tarakan City General Hospital for treatment.

Officials said the reservoir had been fenced off from the public due to drowning and crocodile risks.

Iwan Setiawan, director of a local water utility that uses the reservoir, said crocodiles have been repeatedly found in the Persemaian Reservoir, including one measuring around three metres. He added that residents' goats and dogs have also been attacked in the area.

He added that regular patrols are carried out and residents are regularly warned to stay away.

'There are officers, but it's impossible to provide 24-hour security. We have repeatedly reminded them that this area is dangerous and entry is prohibited.

'We suspect the crocodiles in the Persemaian Reservoir came from their natural habitat around Tarakan, which is known as a habitat for estuarine crocodiles. The river channels and standing water in this area allow crocodiles to enter and breed. At least three large crocodiles have been captured in the reservoir area.'

Police said hunting operations were ongoing to capture the crocodile responsible for the attack.

Sofyan, head of the Tarakan City Public Order Agency, said: 'We've conducted four to five fishing operations previously. We urge the public not to approach the reservoir until an official statement confirms the area is safe.'

The Indonesian archipelago is home to 14 types of crocs - with a large population of extremely large and violent estuarine crocodiles that flourish in the region's climate.

Conservationists believe that crocodiles have been driven further inland closer to villages due to overfishing reducing the crocodiles' natural food supplies combined with habitat loss from the development of coastal areas into farms.

Widespread tin mining has also caused villagers to encroach on the crocodiles' natural habitats, pushing the creatures closer toward people's homes.

With uneducated locals in the developing country still using rivers for bathing and primitive fishing, the deadly combination of factors has led to rising numbers of crocodile attacks.