The remains of 59-year-old Portuguese businessman Gabriel Batista were found inside a crocodile’s stomach in South Africa, confirming his death after he disappeared on April 27. Portugal’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed the identity of the man, whose fate had been unknown for several days.
Batista reportedly became trapped by the animal after his car was swept away by water while attempting to cross a partially flooded bridge over the Komati River. Investigators found the vehicle on the riverbank and also observed a large crocodile that appeared bloated and had difficulty moving.
Investigation and Extraction
The crocodile, weighing approximately 600 kilograms and nearly five meters in length, did not react to the presence of people, distinguishing it from other reptiles. “When crocodiles have just eaten a large prey, they are not very active. They need to lie in the sun for their digestive system to start working,” explained Captain Johan Potgieter to South African news channel eNCA, drawing on his experience.
Authorities decided to euthanize the animal to analyze its contents. The operation to remove the crocodile from the river by helicopter, conducted by Potgieter, was described as “very dangerous and complex.” Police confirmed the presence of human remains inside the crocodile, which were sent for DNA analysis to definitively confirm the victim’s identity.
In addition to the Portuguese man’s remains, approximately six pairs of Crocs and flip-flops were also found in the crocodile’s stomach. Potgieter told SABC News that he could not explain why these items were there or why the crocodile had eaten them, but added that it “shows that these crocodiles are very active in the area.”
The family of the missing businessman was present during the search operation and appealed to the press for privacy. According to Jornal da Madeira, Gabriel Batista was originally from Madeira, specifically the parish of Serra de Água, and had resided in South Africa since 1975, having emigrated there with his parents.
Source: Euronews
