Football player eaten by crocodile while bathing in river in horrific accident

An amateur football player was killed by a crocodile after jumping into a river to cool off in Costa Rica. On Saturday, Jesus Alberto Lopez Ortiz, known as ‘Chucho’, was devoured by the reptile with shocking footage showing his body in the predator’s jaws.

Last week, Lopez was attacked by the crocodile once he entered a river to cool down amid the tropical heat in Rio Canas of the Guanacaste Province. Images showed the crocodile swimming through the water with his body in its jaws. 

Another clip showcased the reptile being shot dead as locals carried the victim to the riverbank. Locals followed the reptile in a canoe after the attack but a statement by local police confirmed it was their officers who killed the crocodile.

Lopez was a 29-year-old footballer for amateur club Deportivo Rio Canas, as well as a dad to two young children. His heartbroken family have now appealed to the public to help pay for the player's funeral costs amid the tragic incident. 

Deportivo Rio Canas manager Luis Carlos Montes is also organising a collection. The club released a statement, which read: “With deep sorrow we make public the death of our player Jesús López Ortiz that God enjoys.

“Rest in peace, Chucho - we join the pain of all his family.”

Costa Rica’s department for environment and energy has a ban against the hunting or killing of protected animals, including crocodiles. However, local police insisted they had permission under the country’s wildlife laws ‘to free the body from the jaws of the reptile’, which allowed authorities to kill the crocodile.