Police officer tells of operation to retrieve human remains from crocodile
Summary
A South African police captain, Johan Potgieter, was lowered from a helicopter into a river filled with crocodiles to recover human remains from one crocodile suspected of eating a man who was swept away by floodwaters. The crocodile was confirmed dead after the operation, and DNA tests are being done to identify the remains.Key Facts
- The operation took place in the Komati River in South Africa after a man’s car was stranded in floodwaters.
- The man went missing, and the police suspected a crocodile had eaten him.
- Captain Johan Potgieter was lowered from a helicopter because the river was too dangerous for boats due to other crocodiles and hippos.
- The crocodile measured 4.5 meters (15 feet) long and weighed 500 kilograms (1,100 pounds).
- The crocodile was shot dead by police before Potgieter was lowered to tie a rope around it to confirm it was dead.
- Human remains and shoes were found inside the crocodile, with DNA tests underway to confirm their identity.
- The police described the operation as highly dangerous and complex.
- Potgieter has served in the South African Police Service for 38 years but had never done an operation like this before.
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