Terrifying River Encounter: Snake Catcher’s Brush with Death

In a heart-stopping incident captured on video, an experienced Indonesian snake catcher named Heru found himself in a life-threatening struggle with a massive six-meter python during what should have been a routine river tour in Borneo. The harrowing footage shows the moment when Heru, perched confidently on the side of a tour boat, reached into the murky waters to catch a python resting near the riverbank. What began as a demonstration of skill quickly transformed into a fight for survival as the powerful reptile dragged him underwater and began constricting around his body. The incident offers a stark reminder of nature’s raw power and the risks taken by those who work closely with dangerous wildlife. Despite the terrifying ordeal, Heru survived without serious injury thanks to the quick action of his fellow crew members, who managed to wrestle the enormous snake away from their colleague before it could inflict fatal damage.

The encounter unfolded rapidly before shocked onlookers. After spotting the python near the shore, Heru—drawing on his experience as a snake handler—reached from the boat to grab the snake behind its head, a standard technique for controlling large constrictors. However, he severely underestimated the python’s strength and size, which Mohamad Alisa, who filmed the incident, later described as the “biggest and strongest” the group had ever encountered. In a shocking turn, the massive reptile used its powerful muscles to pull Heru completely off the boat and drag him underwater, where he momentarily disappeared from view. When he resurfaced seconds later, the python was already beginning to wrap its coils around his torso. The snake quickly worked its way upward, constricting around Heru’s arms and neck as he desperately struggled to keep his head above water. Witnessing their guide in mortal danger, two crew members immediately jumped into action, with one grabbing the python’s head while another secured its powerful tail, working together to loosen the deadly grip around Heru’s neck and body.

The rescue effort, while successful, underscores the incredible danger posed by large pythons. These non-venomous constrictors hunt by ambushing prey and using their powerful bodies to squeeze until the victim can no longer breathe, a method that can kill even large mammals in minutes. Adult pythons like the one encountered by Heru possess tremendous strength—enough to overpower a fully grown human with little difficulty. The incident serves as a sobering illustration of the risks faced by wildlife guides and snake handlers, even those with significant experience. Despite Heru’s expertise in handling snakes, the python’s unexpected power and the disadvantage of being in water created a scenario where his life hung in the balance. Without the immediate intervention of his colleagues, the outcome could have been tragic, as pythons of this size are fully capable of killing and consuming adult humans.

What makes this incident particularly remarkable is the team’s treatment of the python after the dangerous encounter. Rather than killing the snake that had nearly taken their colleague’s life, the crew temporarily captured it, hauling the massive reptile aboard their boat. They documented the impressive animal with photographs before releasing it back into its natural habitat. This conservation-minded approach reflects the philosophy expressed by Alisa, who emphasized, “Our principle is not to harm living creatures. Photography is purely for scientific purposes.” Their decision to release the python demonstrates a deep respect for wildlife and ecological balance, even in the face of a near-fatal encounter. This philosophy stands in stark contrast to how dangerous animals are often treated after attacks on humans, when fear often leads to retaliatory killing of the animals involved.

The incident in Borneo echoes other dangerous encounters with large pythons in Indonesia. Just months before Heru’s brush with death, a 61-year-old grandfather named La Noti met a tragic end when he was killed and consumed by an even larger python measuring 8.5 meters in Southeast Sulawesi. La Noti, who had been tending to livestock, was found only after villagers noticed the snake’s abnormally bloated body. Indonesia, particularly its less developed islands, represents one of the few places on Earth where such deadly encounters with pythons still occur. Borneo itself is home to several python species, including the Reticulated python, which ranks among the world’s longest snakes and is capable of consuming prey as large as deer or wild pigs. These massive reptiles typically inhabit swamps, forests, and riverbanks but occasionally venture into areas with human activity in search of food, creating the potential for dangerous interactions.

The dramatic river rescue serves as a powerful reminder of both nature’s dangers and the importance of preparation, respect, and quick thinking when working in wildlife-rich environments. For tourists and wildlife enthusiasts drawn to exotic locations like Borneo, the incident highlights why expert guides are essential, even as it demonstrates the unpredictable risks that come with observing dangerous animals in their natural habitat. For Heru, the experience likely reinforced the necessity of caution even after years of successfully handling snakes. Most importantly, the crew’s decision to release the python back into the wild after the terrifying encounter reflects an enlightened approach to conservation—one that recognizes that even animals capable of killing humans have an important place in the ecosystem. In an era of rapid habitat destruction and biodiversity loss, this perspective becomes increasingly vital, reminding us that respect for all creatures, even those that threaten us, remains essential to maintaining the natural balance of our planet’s most precious wild places.