Croc victim's remains recovered after 15-foot animal is caught and airlifted from river

Key Points:

• The remains of Gabriel Batista, a missing South African hotel owner, were found inside a 15-foot crocodile after it was airlifted from the Komati River following days of tracking by rescue crews.
• The crocodile, weighing over 1,000 pounds, was killed in an effort to recover Batista’s body, with officials discovering severed arms, part of a rib cage, and flesh inside its swollen belly, along with a ring believed to belong to Batista.
• DNA testing is underway to confirm the identity of the remains, and authorities found at least six pairs of shoes in the crocodile’s stomach, none linked to Batista, prompting investigations into other possible victims.
• The operation involved a police commander being lowered onto the crocodile to secure a harness before it was airlifted by helicopter, highlighting the dangerous and complex nature of the recovery mission.
• It remains unclear whether Batista drowned before being attacked by the crocodile, and investigators have not ruled out the possibility that other crocodiles in the region may contain parts of his remains.