Father who retrieved his daughter’s skull from crocodiles that ate her on his farm says he is selling the business and the death of his two-year-old is ‘my biggest regret in life’
- Rem Roath, 35, will sell his Cambodia crocodile farm after daughter’s death
- Rom Roath Neary died after wandering away from her parents at their farm
- She is believed to have climbed in through a gap in a fence at the enclosure
- Mr Roath climbed in to rescue her remains but was only able to retrieve the skull
- He described the traumatic incident as his ‘biggest regret in life’
The father of a two-year-old girl was killed by crocodiles after straying into their enclosure in Cambodia has decided to sell up his business.
Rom Roath Neary died after wandering away from her parents and apparently climbing through a gap in a fence, at her family’s crocodile farm in Siem Reap.
Grief-stricken father Rem Roath, 35, said he will sell his crocodile venture following the tragic incident.
The crocodiles were fighting over what remained of the two-year-old girl
Rom Roath Neary (pictured) died after wandering away from her parents and apparently climbing through a gap in a fence, at her family’s crocodile farm in Cambodia
‘It is my biggest regret in life, to lose my daughter to my own crocodiles that left only her skull behind,’ he told the Khmer Times.
Mr Roath had overseen the farm for the past five years after his parents left it for him to take over.
After she died, Mr Roath climbed in himself to rescue her remains from the crocodiles, who were fighting over them – but was only able to retrieve what was left of her skull.
Police lieutenant Och Sophen said the toddler’s mother, who had recently given birth, had lost track of Rom because she was busy with the newborn.
Rom’s father returned home later, realised his daughter was missing and started looking for her before discovering the horrific truth.
Sophen said: ‘He found a skull in the crocodile enclosure.
‘He confirmed the daughter fell into the crocodile enclosure and that the crocodiles killed her, leaving only her skull.’
After she died, her father climbed in himself to rescue her remains from the crocodiles, who were fighting over them
The girl died after wandering away from her parents and apparently climbing into this enclosure
The little girl’s heartbroken mother was pictured holding her daughter’s skull after the horrific discovery
Rom’s parents had built a fence around the crocodile pit but the little girl had been able to climb through a gap in the barrier.
Police have launched an investigation into the tragedy. They also issued a warning to families with crocodile farms to keep a close eye on their children at all times.
The shocking video, shot by an eyewitness, of crocodiles fighting over Rom’s remains and her father entering the enclosure to retrieve her skull has been shared on Facebook and video-sharing platforms.
There are many crocodile farms in Cambodia, especially in Siem Reap province, which breed crocodiles for their leather.