20-Foot Python Swallows Woman in Indonesia After She Disappears on Journey to Market

A routine journey through a forest in Indonesia ended in tragedy after a mother of four was reportedly attacked and swallowed by a huge reticulated python.

The woman, identified as 50-year-old Farida, had been travelling through a forested area in Kaumpang, in West Sulawesi's Mamuju Regency, when she disappeared. She had reportedly been making her usual journey to sell food at a nearby market.

Her disappearance prompted a search involving relatives, local residents and authorities. What they eventually discovered left the community horrified.

According to reports, Farida was attacked by a large reticulated python, a species known for its exceptional size. The snake was later discovered with a greatly enlarged stomach, leading villagers to believe it had swallowed the missing woman.

Woman disappears while travelling through forest

Farida had reportedly been following a familiar route through a forested area when the incident occurred. The journey was connected to her regular work selling food at a market close to her home.

Reports say the enormous snake approached her and bit her leg. The python then constricted her body, an attack that reportedly resulted in her death.

Reticulated pythons are powerful constrictors. Rather than relying on venom, they use their muscular bodies to restrain prey before feeding.

In Farida's case, the snake reportedly swallowed her body whole, beginning with her head.

The incident only came to light after her family realised that she had not returned home.

By nightfall, her husband, Noni, had become increasingly concerned. He contacted members of the local community and began searching for his wife with other villagers and authorities.

The search continued until the group encountered a huge python in a wooded area.

Searchers discover giant python

The snake reportedly measured around 20 feet in length and had a noticeably swollen stomach.

According to the report, the unusual appearance of the snake raised suspicions among the search party. Villagers eventually cut open the python and discovered Farida's body inside.

The discovery brought a devastating end to the search.

Reports stated that Farida was still wearing her clothes when she was found. Her remains were subsequently covered and taken away by members of the community.

The shocking discovery reportedly took place in front of a large crowd of villagers, highlighting the profound impact the incident had on the local community.

Farida was later given a funeral and buried in the Pitu Riawa district of Sidrap Regency.

A rare but frightening type of snake attack

The reticulated python, scientifically known as Malayopython reticulatus, is recognised as the longest snake species in the world. Individual snakes can reach extraordinary lengths, although most encounters with people do not end in attacks of this nature.

The source article notes that a reticulated python in Indonesia holds the record for the longest wild snake ever recorded, measuring 7.22 metres.

Despite their size and strength, incidents involving pythons swallowing adult humans are unusual. However, the report points to previous cases in Indonesia in which people were discovered inside large pythons after going missing.

The local village head, Suardi Rosi, reportedly said that this type of danger was not something residents normally feared and that the incident was believed to be the first of its kind in that particular area.

The tragedy has nevertheless drawn attention to the risks that can exist in forested and agricultural environments where people and wildlife share the same surroundings.

Previous incidents have also been reported

Farida's death was not the first reported case of a person being found inside a python in Indonesia.

The source reports that a similar incident occurred in 2022 involving a 54-year-old woman named Jahrah. She reportedly disappeared while carrying out a harvesting errand and was found two days later inside a python.

Another case was reported in 2018, when a woman named Wa Tiba, also aged 54, disappeared while checking her vegetable garden. Her sandals and machete were reportedly found in the area before villagers discovered a python with a swollen stomach.

These cases remain extremely unusual, but they demonstrate why encounters between humans and very large constrictor snakes can sometimes have devastating consequences.

Why reticulated pythons are so powerful

Reticulated pythons are non-venomous snakes that rely on their physical strength to capture prey. Their bodies are highly muscular, allowing them to restrain animals through constriction.

Their enormous length gives them a significant advantage when hunting. They can also move through forests, agricultural areas and other environments where their prey may be found.

The species is native to parts of South and Southeast Asia and is particularly associated with tropical environments.

Although these snakes generally avoid people, their size means that encounters can become dangerous under certain circumstances. A person travelling alone through a forest may have little warning if a large snake is hidden nearby.

That does not mean attacks on humans are common. Instead, cases such as Farida's are notable precisely because they are so rare and extreme.

A devastating loss for Farida's family

For Farida's family, the incident was not simply a frightening wildlife story. It was the sudden loss of a wife and mother.

Her husband reportedly expressed deep regret after learning what had happened. He described his sorrow over allowing his wife to travel alone and expressed concern about the suffering she may have experienced.

Farida's death has also affected the wider community, where residents reportedly gathered during the search and aftermath.

The circumstances surrounding her disappearance make the tragedy particularly distressing. What began as an ordinary journey to a nearby market ended with an unexpected encounter with one of the world's largest snake species.

The incident serves as a reminder that people living and working close to forests can sometimes encounter wildlife capable of causing serious harm, even when such events are highly unusual.

For Farida's loved ones, however, the story is ultimately about a personal loss that cannot be measured by the size of the snake or the shock surrounding the discovery.

Her family and community were left to mourn a woman who had simply set out to complete part of her normal daily routine.

Source

A report published by the Irish Mirror on August 9, 2026. The original report attributes some details to local accounts and the Daily Mail.