On Saturday, July 29, a professional soccer player was killed in the Cañas River, known for its crocodile population.
Jesus “Chucho” Lopez Ortiz, 29, jumped into the river from a bridge in Santa Cruz, Costa Rica, in an area that was designated as a no-fishing zone due to the risk of a crocodile presence.
Witnesses later reported seeing a crocodile swimming with Ortiz in its grasp. Ortiz was a part of the Deportivo Río Cañas, a Carrillo-based amateur soccer team. The unfortunate news of his passing was shared by the team on their Facebook page.
In the efforts to recover Ortiz’s body, the reptile had to be euthanized by the Costa Rican Red Cross and local officials. in general though, crocodiles in Costa Rica are designated as protected animals and it is illegal to hunt or kill them.
Ortiz, who held roles as a player, coach, and was a dedicated family figure, is mourned by his two children. A large number of community members gathered at his funeral in Santa Cruz, in the province of Guanacaste, to pay their respects.
The incident adds to the list of crocodile-related tragedies in Costa Rica. Previously, in October 2022, an eight-year-old, Julio Otero Fernandez, was attacked in the Matina River in Limon.