According to the Spanish news agency Marca, a 29-year-old soccer player named Jesus Alberto Lopez Ortiz passed away in a terrible incident in Costa Rica after getting attacked by a crocodile in the river.
He may have drowned or given in to the pressure of the animal during the encounter, the source added.
The horrific incident occurred in the Canas River while Ortiz was exercising. He jumped off a restricted fishing bridge ignoring the fact that there were crocodiles in the river.
As a terrifying sight played out, witnesses were horrified to see a big animal moving through the river with Ortiz's body. The tragedy happened in the town of Santa Cruz in the Guanacaste province, about 140 miles from San Jose, the nation's capital.
Mr. Ortiz played for the amateur club team Deportivo Rio Canas. He has even played for the team in the Costa Rican Ascenso League. In a Facebook post, the team announced Mr. Ortiz's passing.
“With deep sorrow, we make public the death of our player Jesus Lopez Ortiz (Chucho) may God rest his soul," read the statement as published by Marca.
According to a representative of the Costa Rican Red Cross, local officials had to fire upon the crocodile in order to retrieve Ortiz's remains.
The Costa Rican Ministry of Environment and Energy forbids the hunting or shooting of protected wildlife, including crocodiles, in the Latin American nation.
A funeral was held for Ortiz on Thursday, which was attended by “thousands of people” who flooded the streets to say “goodbye to Chucho,” the team said.
© Copyright 2023. All Rights Reserved Powered by Vygr Media.
