Hero cop retrieves killer crocodile as investigators uncover human remains

South African police have identified a hotel owner killed in a crocodile attack after recovering his remains from a large predator in the Komati River.

Investigators confirmed the victim as Gabriel Batista, 59, after DNA tests matched remains found inside the crocodile. The incident occurred near Komatipoort in Mpumalanga province, close to the border with Mozambique.

Police said Batista attempted to cross a flooded low-level bridge last Monday while driving to his hotel and bar. Strong currents swept his vehicle off the road, and he likely tried to escape on foot before the river carried him downstream into crocodile-infested waters.

A specialised police dive team monitored crocodile activity using drones and identified one large animal showing signs of recent feeding. Authorities later approved action against the predator, and marksmen shot it from a helicopter inside the Kruger National Park area.

Captain Johan Potgieter then led a high-risk recovery operation. A helicopter lowered him onto a river island where several crocodiles gathered. He secured the carcass before the team airlifted it to a safe zone for examination.

During a field necropsy, Captain Joey Potgieter discovered human remains, including limbs and parts of the torso, inside the animal. Investigators also found six pairs of shoes, none of which belonged to Batista. Officials now fear the crocodile may have consumed other victims over time.

Authorities have launched an investigation to trace the origin of the footwear and determine whether the river has claimed additional lives in recent years.

Colleagues described Batista as a devoted family man who frequently travelled between Johannesburg and his business near the river.

Police leaders praised the bravery of the dive team, noting that the operation required precision and courage in a dangerous environment known for large Nile crocodiles, one of Africa’s most lethal predators.