Man killed in crocodile attack at Puerto Vallarta Beach

Authorities said the 28-year-old was attacked and dragged into the water Friday evening before his body was recovered Saturday morning.

A young man was killed in a crocodile attack on a beach in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, on Friday evening, according to authorities. 

The 28-year-old man was in front of the Marriott Puerto Vallarta Resort and Spa on the beach when he was attacked by the reptile and dragged out to sea around 6 p.m., reported ABC News. The victim was later identified as Mexico City resident Irving Mauricio by the local attorney general.  

According to a statement from the Government of Jalisco, the victim’s body was found Saturday morning by members of the Mexican Navy. The American crocodile (Crocodylus acutus) was captured near the site of the incident. 

“This is a highly regrettable and unusual and isolated event, the attention to which required the immediate and coordinated action of authorities from all three levels of government,” the Government of Jalisco said. 

Mexico is not the only place that has recently seen fatal reptile attacks. Across central Florida, multiple people were attacked by alligators last week, the most recent incident killing a 31-year-old woman. 

According to authorities, crocodiles are part of the coastal ecosystems in Puerto Vallarta, and they are closely monitored. Although human-crocodile encounters are rare, the government has reinforced surveillance in areas where incidents may occur.  

Visitors of Puerto Vallarta are urged to avoid entering the water where crocodiles may be present, especially at night, and report any sightings to the authorities. 

Information for this story was gathered using Google Translate. 

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