07.05.2026 07:33
Human remains and six different pairs of slippers were found in the stomach of a giant crocodile killed during search efforts for missing businessman Gabriel Batista, who was swept away by floodwaters in South Africa. While police are conducting DNA tests to determine if the remains belong to Batista, they are also considering the possibility that the slippers may belong to other individuals who went missing previously. Authorities are also investigating whether the approximately 5-meter-long crocodile was linked to other attacks in the region.
During the search for businessman Gabriel Batista, who went missing after being swept away by floodwaters in South Africa, the contents found in the stomach of a giant crocodile that was killed raised alarm among police. Authorities stated that the recovered slippers may be linked to other missing person cases.
The search for 59-year-old businessman Gabriel Batista, believed to have been swept away by floodwaters in the Komati River in South Africa's Mpumalanga province, ended with a horrifying discovery.
HUMAN REMAINS FOUND IN THE STOMACH OF A GIANT CROCODILE
Police teams became suspicious of a crocodile approximately 5 meters long and weighing 500 kilograms, which was seen floating motionless and bloated in the area. After days of tracking, the crocodile was shot dead, and an examination of its stomach revealed human remains. Authorities announced that DNA tests would determine whether the human parts belonged to Batista.
6 PAIRS OF SLIPPERS CAUSE SHOCK
What made the investigation even more mysterious was the discovery of 6 different pairs of slippers and shoes from the crocodile's stomach. Police announced that these items did not belong to Batista. Foreign media outlets such as The New York Post, IOL, and Cape Argus reported, citing police sources, that the crocodile could be linked to other missing person cases. Authorities are investigating whether the shoes belong to individuals previously reported missing in the area.
TRANSPORTED BY HELICOPTER
According to reports in the foreign press, the crocodile was removed from the river with the help of a helicopter. Footage of a police officer being lowered by rope near the crocodile during the operation became a trending topic on social media. Captain Johan Potgieter, who led the operation, said the crocodile had remained motionless at the same spot for days and showed signs of having "recently fed."
“HUMAN TISSUE DIGESTED, SHOES REMAIN”
Police officials stated that plastic-based slippers and shoes cannot be digested, so they remained in the crocodile's stomach. Therefore, the possibility that the recovered items could be from past attacks is being evaluated. Batista's vehicle was reportedly found empty last week on a low-lying bridge covered by floodwaters, and it is believed the businessman was swept away by the river's current.