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Helicopter Rescue Leads to Croc Euthanized, Owner’s Remains Found

5/9/2026

40 4 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

Captain Johan “Pottie” Potgieter lowered himself onto the 15-foot crocodile’s snout from a helicopter.
Police euthanized the crocodile from the Komati River and recovered remains believed to belong to missing hotel owner Gabriel Batista.
Investigators found six pairs of hatchlings and flip-flops in the stomach.
Two severed arms, a half rib cage, flesh fragments and a ring thought to belong to Batista were recovered from the intestines.

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Story summary

Captain Johan “Pottie” Potgieter lowered himself onto the 15-foot crocodile’s snout from a helicopter.
Police euthanized the crocodile from the Komati River and recovered remains believed to belong to missing hotel owner Gabriel Batista.
Investigators found six pairs of hatchlings and flip-flops in the stomach.
Two severed arms, a half rib cage, flesh fragments and a ring thought to belong to Batista were recovered from the intestines.