India, Aug. 20 -- In an act of extraordinary bravery, a woman in Uttar Pradesh's Bahraich risked her life and wrestled a crocodile with her bare hands to save her five-year-old son from being dragged into a nullah.

The incident took place on Monday evening in Dhakia village.

The child, Veeru, was playing near a drain close to his home when a crocodile suddenly lunged out of the water and grabbed him. As the predator tried to pull the boy back into the water, his mother, Maya, 40, heard his screams and ran to the spot, Times of India reported.

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Eyewitnesses said what followed was a five-minute life-and-death struggle. Maya fearlessly confronted...