23-Foot Python Swallows Man Returning Home From Party in Indonesia
By Passman Akpos
A 35-year-old Indonesian man has died after being attacked, crushed, and swallowed whole by a massive 23-foot python while returning home from a party, in a chilling incident that has shocked residents of North Maluku.
According to local authorities, the victim, identified as Hasim Lumbessy, was walking through a forest on his way back to his village of Waksakai in the early hours of July 27 after attending a party the previous night.
Reports indicate that at about 3:00 a.m., the giant python emerged from the undergrowth, bit Hasim on the leg, and wrapped its powerful body around him. The snake reportedly suffocated and killed him before swallowing his body whole.
When Hasim failed to return home later that morning, his worried family and villagers launched a search along the forest path he normally used.
According to Sula Islands Police Chief Handres, the search party discovered bloodstains and several of Hasim’s personal belongings, including his backpack, sling bag, and sandals.
«”The witnesses became concerned after finding his belongings. They returned to the village to alert other residents before conducting a wider search,” the police chief said.»
The search took a horrifying turn when villagers spotted a giant python with an unusually swollen stomach, suggesting it had recently swallowed a large object.
The villagers killed the snake and cut it open, discovering Hasim’s body intact inside the reptile. His remains were recovered and taken home for burial.
Following the tragedy, police urged residents to exercise extreme caution when entering forests or farms, especially in areas known to be inhabited by large pythons.
“We urge the public to be careful when going to their gardens. If possible, they should travel in pairs rather than alone to minimise the risk of similar incidents,” police advised.
The incident is the latest in a series of fatal python attacks reported in Indonesia. Just last month, another giant python reportedly attacked a motorcyclist in the same region, while a 44-year-old woman was also killed by a python while working on her farm in North Maluku.
Indonesia is home to some of the world’s largest reticulated pythons, which are capable of growing beyond 20 feet in length. Although attacks on humans are rare, several fatal encounters have been recorded in recent years, particularly in remote rural communities bordering dense forests.
