A 12-year-old boy’s valiant attempt to save his father from the clutches of a crocodile ended in heartbreak in Sunderbans on Sunday.

Despite Rabiul Sheikh’s desperate efforts to free his father, the crocodile dragged away Asmauddin Sheikh, 45, into the river where his body was found on Monday morning.

The student of Class VI tried to pry open the crocodile’s jaws with his hands to release his father’s right arm until Asmauddin urged him to call villagers for help.

The boy rushed to the river bank and returned within a few minutes with some people, but the crocodile had by then disappeared along with Asmauddin.

The incident occurred near the banks of the Jagaddal river at Satyadaspur village in Patharpratima under South 24-Parganas.

Asmauddin had gone fishing in the Jagaddal river with Rabiul on Sunday afternoon. As he stood in knee-deep water preparing to retrieve the fishing net, a 10-foot saltwater crocodile attacked him.

Rabiul, initially shocked, quickly sprang into action. “I jumped over the animal and tried to open its mouth but it was too strong for me. I felt helpless and started crying. My father then advised me to call villagers to rescue him. I returned within a few minutes with some people, but by then the crocodile had taken my father away,” Rabiul said.

Locals contacted the Gobardhanpur coastal police who, along with forest officials, launched a search operation. Chandan Pandit, the officer-in-charge of Gobardhanpur coastal police, commended Rabiul’s bravery.

“The boy showed exemplary bravery to save his father. We rushed to the spot and began the rescue operation. Unfortunately, we found the man’s body on Monday morning. An autopsy will be conducted on Tuesday.”