Four fishermen in Sarawak caught a massive 280kg freshwater stingray on Thursday evening, May 15.

The catch was made at the Sungai Lundu estuary.

The stingray was captured in one of the nets the fishermen laid in the river in the morning.

Measuring 4m in width, it weighed as much as five adults.

One fisherman Azeri Hipni, 42, told Astro Awani that it took half an hour of struggling to haul in the stingray and take it back to the fisherman's pier.

The fishermen were left exhausted as the stingray put up a fight.

The fisherman from Kampung Stunggang Lundu said it was the first time they caught one this big, despite being used to catching large stingrays from the river.

Azeri also said he was overjoyed for the haul, considering it a blessing, as it will provide for the fishermen's livelihood during Ramadan.

Giant freshwater stingray, also known as Urogymnus polylepis, may be the world's largest freshwater fish.

The nature of these creatures are largely unaccounted for.

For example, it is not known how many populate the wild.

Considered an ancient fish, they exist mainly in Southeast Asian countries such as Thailand, Cambodia, Malaysia and Indonesia.

Stingrays can turn aggressive when they sense danger.

They can protect themselves using the sharp barb on the base of the tail to penetrate attackers.

Stingrays that are smaller have been known to kill humans with their tail.

Top photo via BH Online & Astro Awani