Overview
- A police helicopter team removed a large crocodile from the Komati River near Komatiport and found human remains inside the animal.
- Forensic officers are running DNA tests to confirm if the remains are those of 59-year-old hotel manager Gabriel Batista, who vanished after floods swept his vehicle off a low-water bridge.
- Investigators recovered two arms, part of a chest, a hand with a ring, and six pairs of shoes in the stomach, so they are checking other missing-person reports.
- The recovery used an abseil from a helicopter to strap the animal for airlift in a stretch of river known for many crocodiles, which raised the risk to officers.
- Accounts differ on how the reptile was neutralized for the lift, with some reports saying it was shot and others saying it was sedated or euthanized.