In a devastating incident, prominent Costa Rican footballer, Jesus Alberto Lopez Ortiz, commonly known as “Chucho,” met his tragic end when a crocodile attacked him with his video viral
This horrifying episode occurred while the 29-year-old was taking a refreshing swim in the Rio Cañas river, located in Guanacaste Province.
Video of Costa Rica football player Jesus Alberto Lopez Ortiz being eaten by crocodile goes viral on Twitter
Bystanders captured shocking visuals of the massive reptile gliding through the water, carrying Jesus Alberto Lopez’s body in its powerful jaws. Another distressing video that surfaced showed locals shooting the crocodile dead and subsequently retrieving the footballer’s body onto the riverbank.
#Lamentable 😔
Un lamentable hecho se registró en Costa Rica, cuando un hombre que se bañaba en el rio Cañas, murió luego de ser atacado por un cocodrilo.Se trata de Jesús Alberto López, un futbolista costarricense de 29 años. pic.twitter.com/Xqw4UExv52
— TSM Noticias (@tsmnoticias) August 1, 2023
Police’s controversial decision
Even though Costa Rica’s ministry of environment and energy prohibits hunting or killing protected species, including crocodiles, the local police deemed it necessary to act. They believed it was within their jurisdiction under the nation’s wildlife laws to take down the crocodile “to free the body from the jaws of the reptile.” In their official statement, the police clarified on Jesus Alberto Lopez, “All efforts were made to rescue the body of the deceased person without causing damage to the reptile, which was not possible.”
Tributes pour in for Jesus Alberto Lopez
Lopez, who played for the amateur side Deportivo Río Cañas, leaves behind two children aged eight and three. The football community, still in shock, began to mourn his untimely demise. His club lamented, “With deep sorrow we make public the death of our player Jesus Alberto Lopez. Rest in peace, Chucho.” Online, fans reminisced about his contribution to the sport, with one supporter recalling, “Always with his humility that characterised him, last night he delighted us with his last game. We will miss you, Chucho.”
Rise in crocodile attacks
Jesus Alberto Lopez’s case isn’t an isolated incident. Over the past year, multiple attacks have been reported from various regions. In Costa Rica itself, an eight-year-old boy was a victim last November. Meanwhile, reports from Indonesia, Malaysia, Cambodia, and Australia have also told tales of humans becoming prey to these ancient reptiles. In Mexico, two US tourists faced a crocodile’s wrath during a nighttime swim.
As these tragic stories like the recent Jesus Alberto Lopez continue to emerge, they serve as a grim reminder of the dangers lurking in waters and the delicate balance between humans and the wild.
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