KOMATIPOORT – Police divers spent several days studying the behaviour of crocodiles in the Komati River before carrying out the recovery of human remains found inside one of the reptiles.
Two human arms, part of a ribcage, and tissue from the chest were discovered inside the stomach of a 500kg crocodile.
The reptile, which was later killed, is believed to be linked to the disappearance of a Gauteng businessman after his vehicle became stuck on a flooded low-level bridge in Komatipoort.
According to Captain Johan Potgieter, who was hoisted by a SANParks helicopter into the crocodile-infested river to recover the animal, teams used drones and helicopters to monitor the area for three to four days.
“We have been working in the Lowveld for a very long time and we know the mannerisms of the crocodiles by now,” he told eNCA.
“During the search, we saw that this particular crocodile was only about 150 meters away from where the person had washed off the bridge. This crocodile stayed there the whole time. When the helicopter went over it, it wouldn’t move away.”
Potgieter said these signs helped officers identify the crocodile as the likely suspect.
“We know from experience that if crocodiles have had a big meal, they’re not very active, and need to lie in the sun for their digestive system to start working.”
He added that due to the risks involved, he chose to carry out the recovery himself to avoid putting other team members in danger.
“When I speak to my members and ask them to do something, I always tell them, ‘I wouldn’t ask you to do it if I wouldn’t do it myself’. In this case, because it was dangerous, I didn’t want to use the other members; I would rather do it myself.”
He acknowledged that many things could have gone wrong during the operation.
“It was a dangerous thing. A lot of things could’ve gone wrong. When they hoisted me up, my harness could’ve broken. The helicopter could have had a malfunction. We had a lot of wind on that day and there were chances I could have been blown into the trees.”
Despite the tragic circumstances, he said the recovery would help bring closure to the family.
“They need to know that their loved one is either alive or that he is deceased and has been found. Even though it is a tragedy, you have to get that closure so that people can carry on.”