Horror as 'crocodile' spotted in UK river as police launch frantic search

A crocodile has been found in a UK river, with police forced to launch a frantic hunt to track the reptile down. The three-foot animal was found on the bank next to the Trent and Mersey Canal in Derbyshire after being caught by a fisherman and left on the towpath between bridge 22 and bridge 22a, near Mercia Marina, Willington.

A passerby reportedly took a picture of the crocodile and sent it to police, who swiftly sent officers to the scene, only to find it gone. Derbyshire Constabulary then launched its "strangest appeal ever" on Thursday (October 16) after fears were raised about public safety. The Canal and River Trust - who manage the UK's canals - were also called to help find the crocodile. A police spokesperson said: "We know this is probably the strangest appeal ever to grace our Facebookpage, however, we are appealing for your help in relation to a suspected crocodile that was reported dumped in South Derbyshire. "Yes, you read that correctly... a crocodile! "We're going to go out on a limb and guess this little guy isn't native to Derbyshire."

However, just 24 hours later, the appeal was rescinded after the reptile was discovered to be full of hay.

Police thanked the public and said, "Derbyshire Crocodile Mystery Solved. A member of public has come forward and explained that the crocodile was a stuffed taxidermy one, filled with hay, and inadvertently caught while fishing.

"While it gave us all a bit of a surprise, it turns out this one was more fluff than fear. We're incredibly grateful for the public support and the good humour.

"It's not every day we get to say we've dealt with a crocodile in Derbyshire.

"Keep your eyes peeled. You never know what might turn up next."

Derbyshire Police were right to be cautious, as crocodiles have been known to attack, kill and even eat humans on numerous occasions.

Earlier this month, the horrific moment a crocodile was seen swimming in a river while holding a woman in its mouth was captured by shocked witnesses. The victim, identified as 57-year-old Soudamini Mahala, was snatched by the large reptile whilst bathing in the Kharastrota River in eastern India, local police confirmed. Eyewitnesses said they jumped in the water to rescue her, but their efforts were in vain.

Meanwhile, in August, a father-of-four was brutally snatched and pulled underwater by a crocodile in front of his horrified family. Arifuddin, 53, was bathing along the banks of the Bulete River when the beast latched onto his leg in South Sulawesi, Indonesia. The Indonesian archipelago is home to 14 types of crocodile and there have been more than 400 recorded fatal attacks by the dangerous reptiles.