A local football player was killed by a crocodile on Saturday after jumping into a river to cool off after working out, according to Costa Rican media. The incident has left the small town in shock.
According to a statement from his football team (Deportivo Ro Caas), Jesús “Chucho” Alberto López Ortiz, who was just 29 years old when he passed away, leaves behind a wife and two children, Derian and Eithan.
“With deep sorrow we make public the death of our player Jesus Lopez Ortiz (Chucho), may God rest his soul,” his team wrote.
The young man jumped into the Cañas River near the town of Santa Cruz to bathe, according to his coach, despite the river being a known habitat for crocodiles.
“Unfortunately, he made a wrong decision, and by going in for a bath, what happened, happened,” Luis Montes said.
Witnesses were left horrified when the crocodile attacked López Ortiz and dragged him underwater. Police are unsure if the man died from drowning or injuries sustained from crocodile bites.
Kosta Rikalı amatör futbolcu “Chucho” lakaplı Jesus Alberto Lopez Ortiz, ülkenin Guanacaste eyaletindeki Rio Canas şehrinde serinlemek için girdiği nehirde timsah saldırısına uğradı ve hayatını kaybetti. pic.twitter.com/Tz8qsOrr1k
— Hakan Gökdemir (@hakangokdemir_) August 3, 2023
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A video of the gruesome attack was posted online, showing the crocodile swimming in the river with López Ortiz’s body still clenched in its jaws. Another video showed the crocodile being shot at.
A spokesperson for the Costa Rican Red Cross told the Tico Times that local police shot and killed the crocodile to recover López Ortiz’s remains.
López Ortiz was a midfielder who played in the third division of Costa Rica’s National Amateur Soccer League.
His coach said he will be remembered as a humble, helpful and calm person, well-liked by his teammates.
