Officer Airlifted Into Crocodile-Infested River to Recover Human Remains
Daring South African police operation follows disappearance of businessman swept away by floodwaters
- Officer lowered from a helicopter into a crocodile-infested river during a high-risk recovery mission.
- Human remains found inside a 4.5m crocodile suspected of attacking a missing businessman.
- DNA tests underway as authorities confirm identity and investigate circumstances of the incident.
South African police have carried out a high-risk operation to recover human remains from a crocodile-infested river, following the disappearance of a businessman during recent flooding.
An officer was lowered from a helicopter into the Komati River in the country’s north-east as part of the mission. The crocodile believed to have consumed the missing man had already been killed, but the recovery effort remained tense and dangerous.
Captain Johan “Pottie” Potgieter, who led the operation, described the experience as nerve-wracking, noting the risks involved in approaching such a powerful predator even after it had been neutralised.
Using a rope, Potgieter secured the animal before both were airlifted out of the river. The remains recovered will undergo DNA testing to determine whether they belong to the missing businessman.
The man had reportedly attempted to drive across a flooded low-lying bridge when his vehicle became stranded. By the time authorities arrived, the car was abandoned, leading investigators to conclude he had likely been swept away by the strong currents.
Search teams deployed drones and helicopters to scan the area, eventually identifying a small island where several crocodiles were resting. According to Potgieter, one stood out due to its unusual behaviour and visibly distended stomach, suggesting it had recently fed.
That crocodile was subsequently killed, and its body transported to the Kruger National Park, where investigators discovered human remains inside its digestive tract.
Potgieter also revealed that multiple shoes were found in the animal, though he cautioned that crocodiles are known to consume a wide range of objects, meaning it does not necessarily indicate multiple victims.
South Africa’s acting police chief, Lieutenant-General Puleng Dimpane, commended the team for their courage in executing what officials described as a highly complex and dangerous rescue operation.
