KOMATIPOORT, South Africa — Suspended by a rope beneath a helicopter, a South African police captain was lowered into a crocodile-infested river to recover an animal believed to contain the remains of a missing businessman.
Captain Johan “Pottie” Potgieter, a member of the South African Police Service, carried out the “highly dangerous and complex operation” along the Komati River after police identified a crocodile suspected of consuming human remains.
The recovery followed a weeklong search for a 59-year-old businessman who was believed to have been swept away by floodwaters after his vehicle became stuck near the river.
Using drones and aerial support, search teams located a group of crocodiles on a small island. Based on their behavior and physical condition, officers identified one animal as a likely target, the BBC reports.
“Besides having a massively full tummy, he didn’t move around or try to slip into the river despite the noise of the drones and the chopper,” Potgieter told BBC.
Police said the crocodile had been euthanized before the recovery operation. Potgieter was then hoisted from a SANPARKS helicopter and secured the roughly 15-foot, 1,100-pound crocodile with a rope so it could be lifted from the water and examined by police and forensic experts.
The crocodile was transported to Kruger National Park, where authorities discovered human remains inside its intestines. Officials said DNA testing will be used to confirm the victim’s identity.
Potgieter told the BBC that additional items, including multiple shoes, were also found inside the animal.
“A crocodile will eat or swallow anything,” he said.
Acting National SAPS Commissioner Lt. Gen. Puleng Dimpane praised Potgieter for his bravery, saying he went “far beyond the call of duty” during an operation that could have cost him his life.
“Captain Potgieter’s willingness to place his own life at risk ... reflects the unwavering commitment of SAPS members to serve and protect, even in the face of danger,” Dimpane said.
