The horrific moment a 19-foot crocodile emerged from the water with a woman’s body trapped in its jaws has been caught on camera. The footage shows the reptile swimming through the Luan Boya River in Indonesia, whilst frightened onlookers stand by.

The following clip then reveals the crocodile’s head above water with the mother’s lifeless body. Locals attempted to free the woman by firing shots at the predator, while another climbed a tree and was seen hitting it with a stick.

Jusmitawati, 36, was collecting shellfish with friends at a river in Aceh province on February 15, when she was mauled to death. The 36-year-old mother left her group to get into deeper water, but was later nowhere to be seen. Her husband, along with others, went to search for her, and the search party expanded to include police and members of the local military unit.

The video then shows the crocodile startled by the shots, and attempts from hundreds to have the beast release the mother’s body. It was later recovered from the crocodile’s stomach in a “horrific condition”, with parts still missing.

Rasmanudin Rahamin, chair of the local council, said: “Yes, I was at the location, and thank God the residents managed to catch the crocodile, which was about six metres (19 feet) long and 90 centimetres (three feet) wide.

“After the residents cut open the crocodile’s stomach, it was proven that cloth and parts of the body of the victim were found.”

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The river, known for being a crocodile hotspot, is also a favoured place for fishing. Police are urging residents to take extra precautions regarding dangerous rivers.

Zainur Fauzi, Teluk Dalam police chief, said: “We urge residents to avoid activities around dangerous river areas for the time being until authorities take further action.”

It is believed that overfishing has reduced the reptiles’ natural food supplies, and therefore has caused them to appear inland, closer to villages.

The development of farms across coastal areas has also led to animals losing their habitats, driving them closer to people’s homes.