A tourist from Mexico City was killed in a crocodile attack at a popular beach in Puerto Vallarta on Friday evening, with authorities later capturing a large reptile as part of the investigation. The victim has been identified as 28-year-old Irving Mauricio.
The attack occurred around 6:30 p.m. at Marina Vallarta Beach near the Marriott Puerto Vallarta Resort and Spa. Local authorities recovered Mauricio's body approximately 12 hours later, early Saturday morning. Misael López Muro, director of Civil Protection and Firefighters of Puerto Vallarta, confirmed that the family members of the victim have been contacted.
During the search operation, a crocodile approximately 3.7 meters long was captured in the vicinity of the incident. Authorities are conducting a forensic examination to determine if this reptile is connected to the attack. Images circulating online show several men wrestling the large crocodile on a lawn near a hotel.
Mauricio's body was found about 500 meters offshore in a local waterway, near Bocanegra Beach, roughly 2.5 kilometers south of the hotel where the incident took place. It remains unclear how or why Mauricio entered the water.
San Clemente tourists Jamie Yetter and her fiancé Chris Bury, along with Yetter's teenage daughter, reported hearing screams from the beach while they were relaxing by the pool at the Marriott. Yetter stated they initially thought a man was caught in a rip current and that Bury went to help.
Crocodile attacks are more common during the summer rainy season in Jalisco, when the reptiles become more active in estuaries, rivers, and coastal areas. Officials are urging residents and visitors to adhere to warning signs and avoid entering bodies of water where crocodiles have been reported, particularly in unsupervised areas. Muro assured the public that authorities are committed to managing the ongoing threat through surveillance and preventative education programs.
Irving Mauricio is survived by his father, Ross, his brother, Alexis, and his mother, Claudia Mauricio, who posted a heartfelt message online mourning her son.