Crocodile tracked by drone, cut open; man's remains, 6 pairs of shoes found inside
Rescuers in South Africa airlifted a giant crocodile after Gabriel Batista disappeared in floodwaters. The dissection found body parts of a man, widening the investigation.
In a shocking development from South Africa, the remains of a missing hotel owner were recovered from inside a massive crocodile following a high-risk operation involving air support, according to a report by the New York Post.
The victim, identified as 59-year-old Gabriel Batista, had gone missing after being swept away by strong floodwaters in the crocodile-infested Komati River. Authorities suspected early on that he might have fallen prey to one of the large reptiles in the area, prompting an extensive search effort.
After days of tracking, rescue teams identified a particularly large crocodile that appeared unusually bloated and inactive near the riverbank. Officials observed that its behaviour stood out, as it remained motionless despite nearby drone activity and even a helicopter hovering overhead, raising suspicions that it had recently fed.
Once permission was granted, the team made the decision to kill the animal in hopes of retrieving any human remains. What followed was a complex and dangerous recovery operation. A police officer was lowered from a helicopter directly onto the crocodile’s body to secure it with a harness before it was lifted out of the river. The reptile, believed to weigh over 1,000 pounds and measure around 15 feet in length, was then airlifted to a location where it could be examined.
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Describing the tense moment, Capt. Johan Potgieter told NY Post, “There were so many things that could go wrong, and the rope basically lowered me onto the snout of the crocodile, so I was kind of hoping it really was properly dead.”
He added, “There were two crocs nearby watching as I slipped the harness around the waist of the dead crocodile and secured it under the front legs and tightened the strap.”
When officials later dissected the animal, they made a grim discovery. Inside its stomach were human body parts, including two severed arms, part of a rib cage, and pieces of flesh. A ring found on one of the fingers is believed to belong to Batista, though forensic testing is still underway to confirm the identity.
Investigators were also startled to find multiple pairs of shoes, at least six, inside the crocodile, none of which have been linked to the missing man so far.
Authorities are currently examining whether these items could be connected to other missing persons in the region.
Officials have not yet determined whether Batista had drowned before being attacked or was killed by the crocodile itself. There are also concerns that additional remains could be found in other crocodiles in the area, prompting further investigation.
The incident has brought out the dangers posed by wildlife in flood-affected regions, especially in areas known for large predator populations.
In a shocking development from South Africa, the remains of a missing hotel owner were recovered from inside a massive crocodile following a high-risk operation involving air support, according to a report by the New York Post.
The victim, identified as 59-year-old Gabriel Batista, had gone missing after being swept away by strong floodwaters in the crocodile-infested Komati River. Authorities suspected early on that he might have fallen prey to one of the large reptiles in the area, prompting an extensive search effort.
After days of tracking, rescue teams identified a particularly large crocodile that appeared unusually bloated and inactive near the riverbank. Officials observed that its behaviour stood out, as it remained motionless despite nearby drone activity and even a helicopter hovering overhead, raising suspicions that it had recently fed.
Once permission was granted, the team made the decision to kill the animal in hopes of retrieving any human remains. What followed was a complex and dangerous recovery operation. A police officer was lowered from a helicopter directly onto the crocodile’s body to secure it with a harness before it was lifted out of the river. The reptile, believed to weigh over 1,000 pounds and measure around 15 feet in length, was then airlifted to a location where it could be examined.
Take a look at the post here:
Describing the tense moment, Capt. Johan Potgieter told NY Post, “There were so many things that could go wrong, and the rope basically lowered me onto the snout of the crocodile, so I was kind of hoping it really was properly dead.”
He added, “There were two crocs nearby watching as I slipped the harness around the waist of the dead crocodile and secured it under the front legs and tightened the strap.”
When officials later dissected the animal, they made a grim discovery. Inside its stomach were human body parts, including two severed arms, part of a rib cage, and pieces of flesh. A ring found on one of the fingers is believed to belong to Batista, though forensic testing is still underway to confirm the identity.
Investigators were also startled to find multiple pairs of shoes, at least six, inside the crocodile, none of which have been linked to the missing man so far.
Authorities are currently examining whether these items could be connected to other missing persons in the region.
Officials have not yet determined whether Batista had drowned before being attacked or was killed by the crocodile itself. There are also concerns that additional remains could be found in other crocodiles in the area, prompting further investigation.
The incident has brought out the dangers posed by wildlife in flood-affected regions, especially in areas known for large predator populations.
