A South African police officer was lowered by helicopter into a crocodile-infested river to retrieve a massive reptile suspected of eating a missing businessman. The dramatic operation unfolded after the man's vehicle was found abandoned near the Komati River in the country's northeast. Authorities believe the businessman was swept away by floodwaters while attempting to cross a low-water bridge last week.
Captain Johan 'Pottie' Potgieter, commander of a police diving unit, led the high-risk mission. After spotting a 4.5-meter (15-foot), 500-kilogram (1,100-pound) crocodile with an unusually full stomach, officers killed the animal and secured it for removal. Potgieter was then lowered by rope to attach the reptile before both were airlifted from the river.
The crocodile was transported to Kruger National Park, where human remains were found in its intestines. DNA testing will confirm if the remains belong to the missing businessman. Investigators also discovered six different types of shoes inside the crocodile, though officials cautioned this does not necessarily indicate multiple human victims. 'A crocodile will eat or swallow anything,' Potgieter noted.
The operation involved drones, helicopters, and police divers in the search effort. Authorities initially suspected the businessman had been dragged away by the river's powerful currents after finding his empty vehicle at the scene.