Dad killed in savage crocodile attack while swimming in river
Locals followed the reptile and shot it in order to retrieve the man's body.
WARNING – GRAPHIC CONTENT: A father-of-two has been devoured by a crocodile after taking a dip in a river to cool off.
Jesus Alberto Lopez Ortiz, nicknamed 'Chucho', was killed by the reptile on 29 July after being attacked during a swim in the river in Rio Cañas, Guanacaste Province, Costa Rica.
Shocking images show the large reptile swimming through the water with the 29-year-old victim's body in its jaws.
Another clip shows the crocodile being shot dead in the water before locals carry the body to the riverbank. Local residents followed the reptile in a canoe so they could kill it before rescuing Chucho's body.
Lopez was a footballer for the team Deportivo Río Cañas. He was also a father to two children, aged eight and three.
On 31 July, Lopez's family members appealed to the public to help pay for the footballer's funeral costs. His team manager Luis Carlos Montes is also organising a collection for the victim's family.
On social media, his team posted a heartfelt tribute to their former player. "We will remember you in the many facets of your sporting life as a coach, football player and also as a family father. You will always live in our hearts Chucho, fly high friend."
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The Ministry of Environment and Energy prohibits the hunting or killing of protected animals such as crocodiles. It is not currently known if the department is looking into the locals' decision to kill the crocodile so the body could be collected.
"It should be clarified that all efforts were made to rescue the body of the deceased person without causing damage to the reptile, which was not possible," local police said in a statement.
- Jam Press
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