Authorities in South Africa carried out a dramatic and dangerous recovery operation after a massive crocodile suspected of eating a missing businessman was tracked, killed, and airlifted from a river by helicopter.
The terrifying incident unfolded along the crocodile-infested Komati River near the border town of Komatipoort in northeastern South Africa. Officials had been searching for 59-year-old businessman Gabriel Batista after his vehicle reportedly became stranded and swept away while attempting to cross a flooded low-water bridge.
According to South African Police Service officials, Batista vanished late last month after severe flooding hit the region. Search crews later began suspecting a crocodile attack after spotting a huge reptile lingering unusually close to the area where the businessman disappeared.
Investigators monitored the crocodile for several days using drones and helicopters. Officers reportedly became suspicious because the animal appeared bloated and barely moved even as aircraft flew overhead.
“We know from experience that if crocodiles have had a big meal, they’re not very active,” police captain Johan “Pottie” Potgieter reportedly explained during the operation.
Once authorities received approval, the crocodile was euthanised in what police described as an extremely high-risk mission. Video footage released afterward showed Captain Potgieter being lowered by rope from a helicopter directly into crocodile-infested waters to secure the giant reptile for extraction.
The enormous crocodile, believed to weigh more than 500 kilograms and measure around 15 feet long, was then hoisted into the air beneath the helicopter and transported to nearby Kruger National Park for examination.
What investigators found next shocked even seasoned authorities.
During a necropsy, officials reportedly discovered human remains inside the crocodile’s digestive system, including severed arms, parts of a rib cage, and flesh believed to belong to Batista. A ring allegedly matching one worn by the missing businessman was also reportedly recovered. DNA testing is now underway to officially confirm the remains belong to him.
In an even more disturbing twist, investigators reportedly found multiple shoes inside the crocodile’s stomach, including sandals, flip-flops, and sneakers. Some reports suggested none of the footwear matched Batista’s, raising fears the crocodile may have attacked other victims in the past.
The operation has since gone viral online due to the shocking footage showing both the crocodile and police officer dangling beneath the helicopter high above the river.
Many social media users praised the bravery of the rescue teams involved, while others expressed horror at the gruesome discovery and the dangers posed by crocodiles in flood-prone areas of southern Africa.
The Komati River region sits close to wildlife-heavy areas near Kruger National Park, where Nile crocodiles are known to inhabit rivers and waterways. Experts say flooding can make attacks even more dangerous by pushing both humans and wildlife into unpredictable situations.
Authorities continue investigating the case while awaiting final DNA confirmation on the recovered remains.
