The search for a missing elderly man came to a tragic end when his body was found inside a crocodile’s stomach.

Addi Bangsa, 60 years old, was discovered dead after a four-day search at Tawao, the capital of the Tawau District in Sabah, in Malaysia on 23rd July.

The Sabah Wildlife Department (JHL) closed the combined effort when they cut open the crocodile’s belly, revealing the victim’s remains.

It remains unclear why the decision was made to catch and kill the crocodile to investigate for possible human remains.

Tawau Fire and Rescue Station chief, Jemishin Ujin, confirmed that the deceased’s family members were present when the crocodile’s stomach was opened early in the morning.

Examination results confirmed the victim’s identity, as all body parts were found inside the animal’s gut.

Jemishin Ujin stated that on the fourth day, their team was informed that the rescue team had found a male crocodile believed to have swallowed the victim.

The animal was shot at about 3am on Saturday, 22nd July, and the stomach was then split open at around 9am when the family members arrived.

The reptile weighed about 800 kilogrammes (126 st) and measured over four metres (14 feet) in length.

The operations concluded at 11am after the victim’s body was recovered from the crocodile’s stomach.