Villagers cut open crocodile & Find remains of 8-year-old boy in Zimbabwe

This is the horrific moment villagers cut open a crocodile and found the remains of an eight-year-old boy inside the beast.

The shocking scene was captured by an eyewitness with a smartphone in the village of Mushumbi Pools in northern Zimbabwe's Mashonaland Central Province.

Villagers suspected the crocodile had killed and eaten the young boy, and shot the animal dead.

When they cut open the huge beast's stomach, their worst fears were confirmed.

The remains of the boy, whose name has not been revealed, were removed from the crocodile and buried two days later in a village funeral.

Villagers and a local policeman can be seen in the background of the film, silently watching the grim operation unfold.

Local reporter Simbarashe Sithole said: 'The crocodile was shot and was then cut open. The boy's remains were found in the beast's stomach.'

Zimbabwe has recently been hit by heavy rain, raising river and dam levels, which can bring crocodiles to areas where they are not normally seen.