Boy snatched from boat by crocodile and eaten in front of siblings in Philippines

A ten-year-old boy has died after he was eaten alive by a crocodile in front of his siblings.

The child was on a boat with his older siblings near Balabac in the southern Philippines when he was snatched.

His father failed to find his body after an overnight search but a nearby fisherman found the half-eaten remains on Monday, according to police.

The area is notorious for the presence of the huge saltwater crocodiles, which are one of the world’s largest reptiles, growing up to six metres long.

Jovic Pabello, spokesman for a government council that works to conserve the environment of the Palawan island group that includes Balabac, said: "Since 2015, we've never had a year with zero crocodile attacks in Balabac.

"It's a conflict on water use."

In February, a crocodile grabbed a 12-year-old boy as he swam in a river, but he was able to escape after his siblings hit the reptile's head with oars, Mr Pabello said.

A fisherman was also found half-eaten by a crocodile in the area last year.